LIBRARY 

Umv.rrity  of 
IRVINE 


"-it. 


THEY   GAZED    ON    A    STRANGE    VALLEY    AND    A    WOXDKI'.Ft'L   CITY. 


COLUMBIAN  HISTORICAL  NOVELS.      VOLUME  IL 


A  STORY  OF  THE  SPANISH  CONQUESTS 


BY 

JOHN  R  JPJSICK 

Author  of  "Columbia,  a  Story  of  the  Discovery  of  America.' 


Illustrations  by 
FREELAND   A.    CARTER 


3Torft 

FUNK  &  WAGNALLS  COMPANY 

LONDON  A:NTD  TORONTO 


£ 


COPYRIGHT,  1892,  BY  THE 
FUNK  &  WAGNALLS    COMPANY 


Printed  in  the  United  States. 


PREFACE. 


THE  first  volume  of  this  series,  covering  the  age 
of  discovery,  concluded  with  the  death  of  Colum 
bus.  This  volume,  designed  to  cover  the  period 
known  as  the  age  of  conquests,  begins  with  the 
sailing  of  Ojeda  and  Nicuesa  to  Darien,  and  con 
cludes  with  the  discovery  of  the  Mississippi.  As 
in  the  former  work,  historical  events  are  narrated 
with  great  regard  for  accuracy.  There  is  so  much 
romance  in  the  Spanish  conquests  in  America,  that 
one  has  only  to  select  incidents,  and,  by  the  exer 
cise  of  a  little  skill  in  weaving  them  together,  an 
entertaining  novel  is  made.  Hernando  Estevan, 
one  of  the  leading  characters  in  '"Columbia,"  ap 
pears  in  the  beginning  of  this  volume;  but  the  ro 
mance  centres  about  his  son,  Christopher,  and  the 
daughter  of  Vasco  Nunez  de  Balboa. 

JOHN  R.   MUSICK. 

Kirksville,  J/o. ,  February  1,  1892. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PAGE 

AN  INFANT  WORLD,  1 

CHAPTER  II. 
THE  MAN  IN  THE  CASK,        .        .        ,        „        c        ,16 

CHAPTER  III. 
AN  UNKNOWN  SEA 35 

CHAPTER  IV. 
A  FICKLE  LOVER,         .......      65 

CHAPTER  V. 
LOVE  AND  DEATH, 71 

CHAPTER  VI. 

THE  OPPORTUNITY,        .  ,       f.      92 

CHAPTER  VII. 
THE  YOUNG  HUMANITARIAN,        „  ,        .     107 

CHAPTER  VIH. 
DONA  MARINA, .     121 

CHAPTER  IX. 

THE  BLOODHOUND'S  VICTIM,         .....     136 

CHAPTER  X. 
THE  GOLDEN  CONQUEST,       ......    148 

CHAPTER  XI. 
MATCHLOCKS  IN  THE  AIR,  .       .        .       .        .     165 

v 


vi  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XII. 

PAGE 

OFF  FOR  SPAIN,     ...  ....     183 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
INEZ  OVIEDO,  195 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
LOVE  AND  HATE,  ..'...  210 

CHAPTER  XV. 

PlZARRO   AND   CORTEZ.  ....  .  224 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
RETURN  TO  THE  NEW  WORLD,  .  .  .  237 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
A  MYSTERIOUS  FRIEND, 250 

CHAPTER   XVIII. 

THE  CITY  OF  COLD,        .  ....     268 

CHAPTER  XIX 
SEIZING  A  KING,  ...  ...  282 

CHAPTER  XX. 
A  BANQUET  OF  DEATH,  .  ....  300 

CHAPTER  XXI. 
THE  SECRET  MARRIAGE,  .  ...  318 

CHAPTER  XXII. 
AN  INDIAN  GIRL'S  LOVE,  334 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 
THE  FATHER  OF  WATERS,  .....  350 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 
THE  WANDERER  FINDS  REST,  ....  36(5 

CHAPTER  XXV. 
CONCLUSION,  ......  382 

HISTORICAL  INDEX,         .        «        .        „        ,        .391 
CHRONOLOGY, 401 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE 

They  gazed  on  a  strange  valley  and  a  wonderful  city 

(see  page  152) ,          ....       Frontispiece 

Caravel  at  sea,       ........  1 

Balboa's  strategy, 19 

"Will  you  take  me?"             33 

Leoncico,        .........  36 

"Santiago!  And  at  them!"  ......  39 

A  vast  ocean  glittered  in  the  morning  sun,         .         .  52 

"Don't  you  see  how  happy  I  am?"      ....  97 

"Hold,  lieutenant,  would  you  kill  your  slave?"          .  113 

"From  what  country  did  you  come?"          .         .         .  128 

"Santa  Maria!     I  am  slain!"       .....  181 

Madly  he  leaped  toward  the  frightened  steed,     .         .  202 

Side  by  side  they  floated  down  the  narrow  stream,    .  217 

With  a  glad  cry  she  was  in  his  arms,          .         .         .  235 

"You  are  going  a\vay  to  Peru,"            ....  241 

Nicosia  advanced  toward  the  beast 259 

"  Follow  all  who  can, " 306 

"She  comes!" .         .  351 

De  Soto, .  363 

Then  came  long  weary  months  of  wandering  over 

the  plains, 368 

"Estevan,  farewell!" 380 

"  Behold  your  son  !" 388 

Map  of  the  period, 156 


ESTEVAN. 


CHAPTER   I. 

AN   INFANT   WORLD. 

THE  evening  of  Novem 
ber  9,  1509,  the  little 
town  of  San  Domingo 
was  in  a  fever  of  excite 
ment.  It  bad  been  a  busy 
day,  and  the  confusion  and 
hubbub  continued  until  late 
the  night.  Ships  were  lying 
in  the  harbor  ready  to  sail  with 
the  rising  sun.  It  was  their  object  to  explore  and 
conquer  the  then  unknown  "  Castilla  del  Oro, "  or 
what  was  supposed  to  be  the  "Aurea  Chersonesus" 
of  the  ancients,  whence  King  Solomon  procured 
the  gold  used  for  building  his  temple. 

A  question  which  but  a  short  time  before  had 
threatened  to  plunge  the  colonies  into  a  civil  war  had 
been  amicably  settled.  Ojeda  and  Nicuesa,  two 


ID. 


2  ESTEVAN. 

bold,  enterprising  cavaliers,  claimed  the  governor 
ship  of  Jamaica  and  Darien.  Juan  de  la  Cosa  in 
duced  the  rival  governors  to  allow  the  river  Darien 
to  be  the  boundary  line  between  their  respective 
jurisdictions  at  that  point.  Don  Diego  Columbus, 
son  of  Christopher  Columbus,  and  hereditary  ad 
miral  and  viceroy-general,  settled  the  dispute  over 
Jamaica  himself.  He  already  felt  aggrieved  at  the 
distribution  of  governments  without  his  consent 
and  even  his  knowledge,  contrary  to  the  privileges 
inherited  from  his  father  the  discoverer.  Jamaica 
lay  almost  at  his  own  door,  and  he  would  not  brook 
its  being  made  a  matter  of  dispute  between  these 
brawling  governors;  so,  without  awaiting  the  slow 
and  uncertain  course  of  remonstrating  with  the 
king,  who  had  already  shown  little  regard  for  his 
wishes  and  rights,  he  took  the  matter  in  his  own 
hands,  and  offered  the  governorship  of  Jamaica  to 
his  stanch  friend  and  brave  officer  Juan  de  Es- 
quibel,  who  with  seventy  men  took  command  of  the 
island  and  held  it  subject  to  Don  Diego  Columbus, 
notwithstanding  that  the  fiery  Ojeda  swore  he  would 
strike  off  his  rival's  head  if  he  did  so. 

The  above  stirring  incidents  formed  live  topics 
for  conversation  among  the  inhabitants  of  San 
Domingo.  Ojeda  had  become  somewhat  reconciled 
to  the  act  of  Diego  Columbus,  and  was,  on  the  next 
morning,  to  sail  with  his  vessels  to  the  conquest  of 


AN  INFANT    WORLD.  3 

his  possessions  in  Darien,  which  were  rumored  to 
contain  fabulous  wealth. 

Long  after  the  darkness  of  a  tropical  night  had 
settled  over  the  little  town,  people  were  busy  either 
making  arrangements  for  their  departure,  or,  in 
knots  and  clusters,  on  the  streets  and  in  the  houses, 
were  discussing  the  wonders  which  the  expedition 
was  to  unfold. 

We  invite  the  reader's  attention  to  a  group  of 
four  men  assembled  in  one  of  the  apartments  of 
Hernando  Estevan's  house,  a  substantial  dwelling, 
standing  on  an  eminence  in  the  suburbs  of  the 
town,  with  a  fine  view  of  the  bay  and  ships  riding 
at  anchor.  The  best- known  man  of  the  group  at 
this  time  was  Hernando  Estevan  himself,  who  had 
come  with  Columbus  on  his  first  voyage,  and  was 
among  the  first  to  touch  the  soil  of  the  infant  world. 
Hernando  loved  the  great  admiral,  whom  he  had 
served  since  boyhood,  and  who  on  more  than  one 
occasion  had  saved  his  life.  When  he  became 
cognizant  of  the  intrigues  of  Bovadilla  to  deprive 
Christopher  Columbus  of  his  rights,  he  was  loud  in 
his  denunciation  of  the  admiral's  enemies,  thereby 
bringing  down  upon  his  own  head  some  of  the 
thunderbolts  which  ruined  Columbus. 

The  three  companions  of  Estevan  on  this  evening 
were  Hernando  Cortez,  Vasco  Nunez  de  Balboa, 
and  Francisco  Pizarro,  three  men  since  known  to 


4  ESTEVAfr. 

fame  as  explorers  and  soldiers.  Of  the  four, 
Cortez,  although  by  no  means  diminutive  in  size, 
was  the  smallest.  He  was  slender,  graceful  and 
handsome,  a  native  of  Medellin,  of  an  ancient 
and  respectable  family,  but  of  dissolute  habits,  and 
the  last  person  one  would  expect  to  engage  in  the 
desperate  enterprises  which  later  in  life  marked  his 
career  and  placed  his  name  first  among  the  Spanish 
conquerors.  He  was  gallant,  kind-hearted  and 
jovial,  and  in  the  old  world  as  well  as  in  the  new 
was  continually  involved  in  some  love  scrape.  He 
had  fought  a  score  of  duels,  and  on  this  evening 
was  suffering  from  a  sword  thrust  in  the  hip  which 
compelled  him  to  go  on  crutches.  Yasco  Nunez 
de  Balboa  was  a  native  of  Xeres  de  los  Caballeros, 
of  a  noble  though  impoverished  family.  He  was  a 
soldier  of  fortune,  of  loose,  prodigal  habits,  and, 
like  Cortez,  a  libertine.  At  present  he  was  as 
badly  crippled  with  debts  as  was  Cortez  with  a 
sword  thrust. 

The  fourth  man,  all  things  considered,  was,  per 
haps,  the  most  remarkable  of  the  group.  Francisco 
Pizarro  was  a  modern  Romulus.  Instead,  however, 
of  building  up  an  empire,  as  did  Romulus,  he  de 
stroyed-  a  kingdom.  He  was  born  about  the  year 
1472,  at  Truxillo,  a  city  of  Estremadura,  in  Spain, 
being  an  illegitimate  son  of  Gonzalo  Pizarro,  a  colo 
nel  of  infantry,  who  was  an  uncle  to  Hernando 


AN  INFANT    WORLD.  5 

Cortez.  Pizarro  was  abandoned  by  his  mother, 
Francisca  Gonzalez,  when  a  child,  and  his  early  life 
was  very  obscure.  He  never  received  any  educa 
tion,  and  tradition  says  that  in  infancy  he  was 
suckled  by  a  sow,  a  story  quite  as  plausible  as  that 
Romulus  in  early  life  drew  his  nourishment  from  a 
wolf.  In  boyhood  he  was  a  common  swineherd 
and  was  kicked  up  into  the  world  until  he  be 
came  old  enough  to  kick  back.  He  inherited  his 
military  ability  from  his  father.  Pizarro  was 
moody,  taciturn,  and  at  times  sullen.  There  was 
a  natural  ferocity  about  him,  strangely  in  contrast 
with  his  cousin  Hernando  Cortez.  The  latter  was 
always  friendly  with  Pizarro,  regardless  of  their 
difference  in  rank,  station  and  birth,  and  even  ac 
knowledged  him  as  his  cousin. 

The  four  men  whom  we  have  thus  introduced 
sat  about  a  table  on  which  was  a  jar  of  wine  and 
some  drinking  cups,  for  Estevan,  the  host,  was 
noted  for  his  hospitality. 

"  So  a  truce  has  been  patched  up  between  the 
rival  governors,"  said  Balboa,  sipping  his  wine. 

"A  truce  which  will  be  permanent, "'answered 
Estevan.  "The  admiral  has  disposed  of  Jamaica." 

"  To  the  dissatisfaction  of  Ojeda,"  put  in  Cortez. 
"Ha,  ha,  ha!  the  fiery  little  fellow  has  had  many 
drawbacks  of  late.  It  was  worth  seeing  him  when 
he  proposed  to  settle  the  dispute  in  single  combat.'' 


6  ESTEVAN. 

"Would  not  Nicuesa  accept  his  challenge?" 
asked  Pizarro,  in  his  deep  orotund- voice. 

"Accept!  ha,  ha,  ha,  ha!  He  did  accept," 
laughed  Cortez;  "but  that  was  the  joke.  Nicuesa 
proposed,  as  a  preliminary  to  the  duel,  that  they 
have  something  worth  fighting  for,  and  that  each 
should  deposit  five  thousand  castillanos,  to  be  the 
prize  of  the  victor." 

"Such  a  swordsman  as  Ojeda  need  not  long  hesi 
tate  at  such  a  proposition,"  remarked  Balboa. 

"Nor  would  he,  had  he  possessed  the  money. 
The  cunning  Nicuesa  knew  he  had  not  a  single 
pistole  in  his  treasury  when  he  made  the  proposi 
tion."  Cortez  laughed  loudly,  Estevan  and  Balboa 
smiled,  while  Pizarro  sat  gazing  sullenly  at  the 
wall. 

"Ojeda  will  make  his  fortune  now,"  sighed 
Balboa,  after  a  short  silence.  "I  would  that  I 
could  go  with  him." 

"Why  can't  you?"  Pizarro  asked. 

"Creditors!"  sighed  Balboa.  "They  are  on 
every  side.  There  is  gold  for  the  idiots  at  Cas- 
tilla  del  Oro.  I  have  a  strong  arm  and  a  keen 
sword  to  earn  it,  and  why  won't  they  let  me 
go?" 

"Do  they  object?"  asked  Estevan. 

"  Yes.  To-day  a  delegation  of  my  creditors  paid 
me  an  unwelcome  visit,  and  gave  me  to  understand 


AN  INFANT    WORLD.  7 

if  I  made  any  effort  to  leave  the  island  without  first 
having  satisfied  their  demands,  I  would  be  arrested 
and  thrown  into  prison." 

"Then  you  are  in  reality  a  prisoner  at  San  Do 
mingo?"  remarked  Estevan. 

"I  am  going  to  escape  and  carve  out  an  empire 
for  myself,"  answered  Balboa.  "Ojeda  would 
have  been  in  the  same  plight  as  I,  had  not  Bachelor 
Encisco  loaned  him  the  money." 

"Try  a  loan  yourself?"  laughingly  suggested 
Cortez. 

"Where,  pray,  could  I  secure  one?" 

"Not  from  me,  I  swear,"  answered  the  merry 
Cortez;  then,  with  a  sudden  contortion  of  the 
muscles  of  his  face,  he  added:  "Ah!  that  wound 
pains  me !  The  devil  drove  his  sword  well  nigh  to 
the  hip  joint." 

"How  did  you  receive  this  last  wound?"  Este 
van  asked. 

"It's  another  lady  affair.  Alonzo  Bestiadez  be 
came  mortally  jealous  of  his  pretty  wife  because  she 
deigned  to  smile  on  me,  and  forthwith  challenged 
me.  It  adds  one  more  scar  to  my  list,"  and  Cortez 
laughed  as  if  it  were  a  joke. 

"Could  you  swear  he  was  jealous  without  a 
cause,  Cortez?"  asked  Hernando. 

"  Nay,  nay,  my  good  friend,  do  not  press  me  too 
dose.  Alonzo  has  Ins  wife,  I  have  my  wound,  so 


8  ESTEVAN. 

let  the  matter  end,  though  the  wound  is  unlucky 
for  me." 

"Why  so,  friend!"  asked  Hernando.  "Per 
chance  it  may  keep  you  out  of  some  worse  scrape." 

"I  was  to  go  with  Ojeda  on  this  expedition." 

"I  thought  he  excluded  friends  of  the  late  ad 
miral." 

"Not  so,  he  is  hard  pressed  for  men  and  will 
take  any  who  can  go.  Even  Pizarro  goes  with 
him." 

Pizarro  nodded  his  head  in  silence. 

"  And  Balboa  would  go  if  he  could  escape  the 
embraces  of  his  creditors." 

"So  I  would,"  and  Balboa  laughed  as  reck 
lessly  as  did  the  merry  Cortez. 

"This  ugly  wound  is  all  that  detains  me.  Our 
friend  Estevan,  here,  is  in  love  with  adventure; 
why  don't  you  make  one  of  the  party?"  asked 
Cortez,  directing  the  last  part  of  his  speech  to 
Estevan. 

"I  have  a  wife,"  answered  Estevan. 

"  So  you  have,  the  beautiful  Christina,  though  I 
have  not  seen  much  of  her  of  late,"  continued  the 
rollicking  Cortez.  "  You  must  be  madly  in  love 
with  her,  indeed,  to  forego  the  pleasure  of  this  con 
quest  for  her  society." 

"I  am  soon  to  be  a  father,"  added  Estevan. 

"Aha!"    cried  his  three  convivial  companions, 


AN  INFANT   WORLD.  9 

starting  to  their  feet.  Cortez,  with  a  spasm  of  pain, 
clutched  his  wounded  leg  and  sat  down.  As  soon 
as  he  could  speak  he  said : 

"  You  are  a  lucky  dog,  Estevan,  to  be  the  father 
of  the  first  white  child  born  in  the  New  World. 
You  will  have  richer  treasures  than  Castilla  del 
Oro  can  furnish." 

"I  would  not  care  to  sail  with  Ojeda,  anyway," 
added  Estevan. 

"Why  not?" 

"  He  is  an  enemy  of  the  admiral,  and  I  am  Don 
Diego's  friend." 

"That  is  a  truth,"  said  Cortez,  "and  woe  is  the 
man  under  Ojeda  who  is  friendly  to  Columbus." 

"Of  all  of  us,  Francisco  Pizarro,  alone,  will  ac* 
company  the  expedition,"  put  in  Balboa. 

Pizarro  answered  with  a  silent  nod. 

These  men  were  typical  of  the  great  explorers  and 
cavaliers  of  the  age.  They  were  men  whom  noth 
ing  discouraged  or  dismayed.  In  the  fervor  of 
their  belief,  they  seemed  to  be  inspired  and  to  in 
spire. 

Pizarro,  foundling  and  swineherd  as  he  had  been, 
was  one  of  the  class  of  daring  enthusiasts.  He  was 
a  man  of  brain  as  well  as  brawn.  Reason  first 
kindled  his  passion,  but  passion  was  the  instrument 
he  used.  While  appearing  to  appeal  to  men's 
judgments,  he  forced  himself  into  their  hearts. 


10  ESTEVAN. 

Nothing  is  more  contagious  than  enthusiasm;  it 
moves  stones  and  charms  brutes.  It  is  the  genius 
of  sincerity,  and  truth  accomplishes  no  victories 
without  it.  Though  gloomy  and  taciturn  as  he 
usually  was,  Pizarro  could  become  loquacious,  and 
even  eloquent  at  will.  When  he  became  roused  at 
last  and  told  his  companions  of  the  golden  conquests 
which  awaited  those  brave  and  daring  enough  to 
secure  them,  Cortez,  for  the  time  being,  forgot  his 
wound,  Balboa  his  creditors,  and  Estevan  his  wife 
and  prospective  heir. 

"Before  us  is  a  vast  unknown  world,  with 
treasures  that  would  outrival  a  Croesus,"  said 
Pizarro.  "  The  season  is  ripe  for  wealth  and  fame. 
Both  await  the  man  who  has  the  courage  to  draw 
his  sword  and  carve  out  his  fortune." 

"I  will  go!"  cried  Balboa,  enthusiastically. 

"But  your  creditors,"  interposed  Cortez,  with 
a  smile. 

"My  creditors  may  wait  until  I  have  amassed  a 
fortune,  when  I  will  return  and  satisfy  them  in 
full." 

It  was  late  when  the  little  party  broke  up  that 
night.  Cortez  with  his  crutch  and  cane  hobbled 
away  to  his  humble  abode,  regretting  that  he  could 
not  be  one  of  the  crew  to  sail  on  the  morrow. 
Estevan,  rired  by  the  oratory  of  Pizarro,  wished 
that  his  affairs  were  so  arranged  that  he  could  ern- 


AN  INFANT   WORLD.  11 

bark  in  the  dangerous  enterprise  of  conquering 
Darien. 

At  early  dawn  lie  was  awakened  by  the  tumult 
of  embarcation.  Hurriedly  dressing,  he  hastened 
toward  the  bay,  which  presented  a  scene  of  unusual 
excitement.  The  horses,  which  had  been  left  until 
the  last,  were  being  taken  on  shipboard.  Cavaliers 
in  glittering  helmets  and  shining  armor  were  hurry 
ing  here  and  there.  Crossbow-men,  arquebusiers, 
halberdiers  and  sailors  were  embarking.  The 
morning  air  resounded  with  music.  The  departing 
soldiers  and  adventurers  indulged  in  song  and  jest, 
as  though  they  were  going  on  a  mere  holiday  ex 
cursion.  The  Spanish  imagination  was  easily 
quickened,  and  the  Spaniards,  naturally  enthusias 
tic,  caught  the  contagion  of  conquest,  while  their 
fancies  wove  triumphs  and  treasures  exceeding 
the  most  marvellous  dreams. 

"You  have  come  to  witness  the  departure,"  said 
a  familiar  voice  at  Estevan's  side,  and  turning,  he 
beheld  Cortez  leaning  on  his  crutch.  "It  is  a  glo 
rious  sight,  Cortez,  and  I  feel  a  desire  to  go  my 
self,"  answered  Estevan. 

"This  accursed  wound  holds  me  here;  but  I 
will  bide  my  time.  God  ordains  us  for  different 
fields  of  action,  and,  perchance,  it  is  best  that  we 
do  not  go  to  Darien." 

"Poor  fellows!     Many  of  them  who  march  so 


12  ESTEVAN. 

proudly  to  board  the  vessels  may  never  return," 
thought  Estevan.  Little  did  he  dream  how  few 
would  return. 

In  shining  harness,  glittering  helmet  and  clank- 
ing  sword,  Ojeda  rode  his  prancing  steed  to  the 
water's  edge.  Dismounting,  his  horse  was  driven 
into  a  scow  to  be  taken  on  board,  while  the  gov 
ernor  waited  on  the  sands  to  oversee  the  embarca- 
tion.  As  a  boat  was  about  to  pull  from  shore,  a 
man  darted  forward  and  entered  it. 

"Pull  away — pull  away!"  he  shouted  to  the 
oarsman. 

But  ere  an  oar  could  be  dipped  in  the  water  to 
speed  the  boat  forward,  several-  harpies  of  the  law 
rushed  forward,  and,  seizing  Balboa,  dragged  him 
from  the  boat. 

"Unhand  me!"  he  cried,  drawing  his  sword. 

"What  have  we  here?"  demanded  Ojeda,  hurry 
ing  to  the  scene. 

"This  is  Balboa,  a  fellow  who  owes  us,  and 
takes  this  means  of  escaping  his  just  obligations," 
answered  one  of  the  creditors.  "  We  intend  to  drag 
him  before  the  alcalde  mayor  and  send  him  to 
prison." 

Francisco  Pizarro,  in  the  hope  of  aiding  his 
friend,  quitted  the  boat,  and,  with  his  hand  on  his 
sword,  was  advancing  toward  the  officers.  Know 
ing  it  would  not  do  to  interfere  with  the  rights  of 


AN  INFANT   WORLD.  12 

Balboa's  creditors,  Ojeda  turned  to  ward  Pizarroand 
said: 

"Back  to  your  boat,  fellow;  if  lie  owes  debts, 
let  him  pay  them," 

"  Unless  he  can  induce  Bachelor  Encisco  to  do  it 
for  him!"  put  in  a  jester  who  was  on  the  beach. 
This  remark  being  a  direct  thrust  at  Ojeda,  who 
had  been  helped  out  of  a  financial  strait  by  the 
lawyer  Encisco,  so  enraged  the  governor  that  he 
drew  his  sword  and  chased  the  young  knave  for  two 
hundred  paces,  but  the  jester  was  swift  on  foot  and 
Ojeda  heavily  encumbered  with  his  armor,  so  the 
culprit  escaped.  Ojeda  returned,  and,  entering  his 
boat,  was  pulled  away  to  his  vessel.  Anchor  was 
weighed,  sails  spread,  and  amid  the  thundering  of 
cannon  and  glad  huzzas,  that  portion  of  the  fleet 
which  Ojeda  was  to  take  with  him  sailed.  Some 
of  the  vessels  under  Bachelor  Encisco,  who  had 
borne  the  expenses  of  the  expedition,  remained  be 
hind  for  recruits  and  supplies,  to  follow  a  few 
months  later. 

Estevan  and  Cortez  watched  the  sails  until  the 
fleet  disappeared,  never  to  return.  Cortez,  cursing 
the  ill  luck  which  prevented  his  enlisting  in  the 
expedition,  hobbled  back  to  his  house,  where  he  was 
soon  joined  by  Balboa. 

"Did  they  release  you  so  soon?"  asked  Cortez. 

"  They  only  detained  me  until  the  fleet  was  gone; 


14  ESTEVAN. 

but  I  will  join  Ojeda  yet.  I  will  be  an  explorer, 
Cortez,  and  carve  a  name  for  myself  among  the 
conquerors  of  the  New  World." 

Cortez  winced,  as  he  tried  to  move  his  wounded 
hip. 

"I  wonder  whose  sword  it  will  be  next  to  pierce 
my  flesh?"  he  coolly  remarked. 

Months  rolled  on,  and  only  the  wildest  rumors 
of  the  expedition  reached  San  Domingo.  Those 
whohad  friends  and  relatives  with  Ojeda  strained 
their  eyes,  gazing  seaward  in  the  hope  of  seeing  a 
sail.  None  dreamed  of  the  dangers,  trials  and 
sufferings  from  the  ocean,  treacherous  reefs,  un 
healthy  morasses,  and  poisonous  arrows  of  revenge 
ful  enemies,  which  menaced  the  adventurers  at 
Darien.  The  winter  passed,  ushering  in  the  year 
1510,  a  year  memorable  in  the  history  of  the  New 
World.  Bachelor  Encisco  was  beating  up  recruits 
and  loading  his  ships  with  supplies  for  San  Sebas 
tian,  and  expected  soon  to  weigh  anchor  and  go  in 
search  of  Ojeda. 

One  bright  morning,  early  in  the  new  year,  the 
feeble  wail  of  an  infant  was  heard  in  the  house  of 
Estevan.  No  sooner  was  the  glad  news  spread 
over  the  town,  than  old  and  young  flocked  to  gaze 
on  the  first  white  child  born  in  the  New  World. 
The  admiral,  Don  Diego  Columbus,  who  had 
always  been  Estevan' s  warmest  friend,  was  among 


AN  INFANT    WORLD.  15 

the  first  to  congratulate  him  over  the  birth  of  a 
son. 

The  babe  grew  strong,  and  as  he  lay  on  his  bed, 
gazing  with  great  blue  eyes  at  Balboa,  Cortez,  and 
Diego  Columbus,  he  seemed  to  be  reading  in  their 
faces  his  own  stormy  future.  What  a  wild  career 
was  marked  out  for  that  child !  Well  for  the  peace 
and  joy  of  his  parents  that  they  were  not  permitted 
to  read  the  future  of  their  son.  At  the  proper  age 
the  child  was  christened  by  the  bishop  of  San  Do 
mingo.  His  parents  gave  him  the  name  of  Chris 
topher  Rodrigo  Estevan,  and  appointed  Don  Diego 
Columbus  as  his  godfather.  Those  who  saw  the 
child  thought  its  bright  face  foretold  a  grand  des 
tiny.  The  good  bishop  declared  that  it  was  no 
ordinary  child.  It  was  seldom  ailing,  and  still 
more  seldom  gave  evidence  of  grief.  It  seemed 
quietly  concentrating  all  its  energies  for  a  wonder 
ful  future.  Those  little  feet  were  to  tread  great 
mountain  systems  then  unknown,  to  thread  deep 
and  almost  impenetrable  forests  in  far-off  lands, 
and  those  deep  blue  eyes  were  to  behold  golden 
cities,  witness  kings  hurled  from  their  thrones,  and 
see  dynasties  overturned. 


CHAPTER   II. 

THE   MAN    IN   THE   CASK. 

BACHELOR  ENCISCO  had  almost  received  his 
complement  of  men  and  supplies,  and  was  busily 
engaged  loading  his  ship.  Neither  Ojeda  nor 
Nicuesa  had  been  heard  from  since  their  departure, 
and  there  were  various  conjectures  as  to  their  fate. 
But  new  adventurers  had  arrived  from  Spain  and 
the  island,  ready  to  engage  in  new  and  dangerous 

t/ 

enterprises. 

On  the  day  before  the  vessel  sailed,  Balboa  met 
Estevan  on  the  street,  and  led  him  apart  from  the 
crowd. 

"Estevan,  I  want  to  talk  with  you." 

"Do  you  wish  to  negotiate  a  loan?"  Estevan. 
asked  with  a  smile. 

"  No,  I  prefer  running  away  from  old  debts  to 
contracting  new  ones.  I  want  to  tell  you  that  I 
intend  to  go  in  the  ship  which  is  about  to  sail." 

"Will  not  your  creditors  interpose  an  objection?" 
asked  Estevan. 

"No  doubt,  if  they  know  it,"  Balboa  answered. 
16 


THE  MAN  IN  THE   CASK.  17 

"I  propose  to  sail  without  their  knowledge  and  thus 
spare  the  public  another  scene.  I  have  sold  the 
Bachelor  some  casks  of  provisions  from  my  farm, 
and  they  are  coming  to-night  to  take  them  on  board. 
•I  want  you  to  superintend  the  shipping  of  the 
casks." 

"Where  will  you  be?" 

"In  one  of  them." 

Then  he  explained  that  Estevan  was  to  nail  him 
up  in  a  cask,  that  he  might  be  taken  aboard,  and 
his  presence  be  kept  secret  until  the  ship  was  well 
out  at  sea.  "While  they  were  discussing  the  wild 
scheme,  Cortez,  still  limping  from  his  sword  thrust, 
was  discovered  coming  down  the  street. 

"There  comes  our  friend  Cortez,  who  has  some 
judgment,  if  he  is  a  gallant,  devil-may-care  fel 
low,"  said  Balboa.  "Let  us  take  him  into  our 
counsel." 

Estevan  assented  and  called  to  Cortez. 

"What  mischief  are  you  twain  concocting  now?" 
he  asked,  as  he  approached  them. 

"I  am  in  distress,  Cortez,  and  want  the  aid  of 
both  of  you,"  answered  Balboa. 

"If  it  is  a  loan  you  wish,  my  friend,  I  swear, 
by  St.  Anthony,  I  am  unable  to  aid  you.  When  I 
shall  have  settled  with  my  surgeon  I  will  not  have 
a  pistole  left.  I,  who  came  to  the  New  World  in 
search  of  gold,  have  so  far  found  nothing  but  steel." 


18  ESTEVAN. 

"I  do  not  want  a  loan." 

"Not  want  a  loan;  then  your  nature  has  ex 
perienced  a  complete  revolution,  for  I  thought  you 
wanted  nothing  but  loans?  What  do  you  wish." 

"I  want  you  to  help  me  in  a  strategy." 

Cortez  was  always  ready  for  any  wild  harem- 
scarem  enterprise,  and  when  the  scheme  had  been 
explained  to  him  he  laughingly  answered: 

"  Certainly,  I  will  assist  to  ship  you  as  pork  to 
Terra  Firma," 

Estevan  and  Cortez  went  to  Balboa's  farm,  and 
headed  him  up  in  a  cask.  An  armed  escort  was 
sent  to  convey  the  provisions  which  had  been  sold 
to  Encisco.  The  cask  containing  the  stowaway 
was  placed  on  a  cart  and  hauled  to  the  harbor,  where 
it  was  taken  on  ship-board.  Cortez,  whose  wits 
were  always  at  his  command,  formed  a  valid  excuse 
for  the  absence  of  Balboa. 

Before  midnight  all  were  safely  on  board,  and 
the  stowaway,  who  was  to  make  the  expedition 
among  the  most  famous  of  Spanish  conquests, 
crouched  dozing  in  the  cask,  wishing  they  were  well 
out  at  sea.  At  sunrise  anchor  was  weighed,  sails 
unfurled,  and  amid  salutes  from  the  fort,  answered 
by  cannon  from  the  ship,  Bachelor  Encisco  began 
the  voyage. 

The  shore  grew  fainter  and  fainter  as  the  vessel 
bounded  over  the  billowy  way  until  at  last  it  faded 


THE  MAN  IN   THE  CASK. 


19 


from  view.  Encisco  was  walking  the  quarter  deck 
when  his  attention  was  attracted  by  a  noise  in  a 
large  cask  which  was  supposed  to  contain  salt  pork. 


BALBOA'S  STRATEGY. 


He  paused  for  a  moment,  listening,  and  hardly  able 
to  credit  his  senses. 

"Let  me  out!"  he  heard  a  voice  calling. 


20  KSTEVAN. 

At  once  suspecting  that  lie  had  a  stowaway  on 
board,  the  enraged  Bachelor  called  for  a  hammer 
and  knocked  in  the  head,  when  Vasco  Nufiez  de 
Balboa,  to  the  great  surprise  of  master  and  crew 
emerged  like  an  apparition  from  the  cask.  Encisco 
was  highly  indignant  at  being  thus  outwitted, 
although  he  had  gained  a  valuable  recruit  by  the 
deception;  and  in  the  first  ebullition  of  his  wrath, 
he  gave  the  fugitive  debtor  a  rough  reception. 

"This  is  Balboa,  whom  Ojeda  refused  to  take 
with  him!''  he  cried,  seizing  him  by  the  shoulder. 
"Why  have  you  come  in  this  manner?" 

At  a  glance,  Balboa  saw  that  the  armed  escort, 
which  had  piloted  them  some  distance  from  land, 
had  returned,  and  he  felt  little  fear  of  the  enraged 
Bachelor.  lie  calmly  surveyed  the  scene  before 
answering. 

"I  took  this  means  to  come,"  he  said,  "because 
my  creditors  would  allow  me  to  come  no  other 
way." 

"  You  think  to  impose  on  me,"  the  irate  Bachelor 
returned.  "But  I  will  have  nothing  to  do  with 
you,  and  shall  set  you  ashore  on  the  first  unin 
habited  island  we  reach." 

"Surely  not;  that  would  be  murder." 

"It  will  be  justifiable.  I  will  have  no  worth 
less  vagabonds  to  breed  dissensions  in  my  colony." 

Balboa  possessed  as  haughty  a  spirit  as  any  noble 


THE   MAN  IN   THE   CASK.  21 

in  Castile,  and  those  cruel  words  cut  his  pride. 
Gnashing  his  teeth  he  laid  his  hand  on  his  sword. 
Encisco  was  also  a  spirited  man,  and  a  fatal  en 
counter  might  have  resulted,  had  not  the  pilot 
interfered.  He  persuaded  the  Bachelor  to  be  rec 
onciled,  assuring  him  that  Balboa,  though  poor  and 
in  debt,  was  a  gentleman  of  good  family,  and,  being 
in  the  prime  and  vigor  of  his  days,  tall  and  mus 
cular,  seasoned  to  hardships  and  of  intrepid  spirit, 
was  an  acquisition  to  their  forces  to  be  desired. 
Thus  a  truce  was  patched  up  between  them,  though 
the  spirited  Balboa  never  fully  recovered  from  the 
cruel  words  of  Encisco.  At  first  he  was  morose 
and  sullen,  but  after  a  few  days  he  began  to  mingle 
among  the  men,  with  whom  he  became  very  pop 
ular.  Having  been  to  the  coast  on  a  former  voy 
age,  his  knowledge  was  valuable  to  the  commander 
of  the  expedition. 

Arriving  at  mainland,  they  touched  at  the  fatal 
harbor  of  Carthagena,  the  scene  of  the  sanguinary 
conflicts  of  Ojeda  and  Nicuesa  with  the  natives. 
They  were  alarmed,  while  working  on  a  boat,  by  the 
appearance  of  a  body  of  armed  Indians,  threatening 
to  give  battle.  A  few  days  later,  two  Spaniards 
while  on  shore  were  surrounded  by  savages,  and 
threatened  with  death.  One  of  the  Spaniards, 
speaking  the  Indian  language,  communicated  with 
them  and  terms  of  peace  were  made.  From  them 


22  ESTEVAN. 

Encisco  learned  something  of  the  terrible  fate  of 
the  colonists  who  had  preceded  them,  though  he 
could  learn  little  of  Ojeda  and  Nicuesa. 

One  day  a  cry  of,  "  Sail !  sail ! "  rang  out  from  the 
harbor,  and  Encisco  was  amazed  to  see  a  brigantine 
come  to  anchor  in  the  bay.  Ordering  a  boat  he 
was  rowed  to  the  side  of  the  strange  vessel.  Bal 
boa,  who  was  one  of  the  crew  to  row  the  Bachelor 
to  the  vessel,  was  astonished  to  find  the  brigantine 
under  command  of  Francisco  Pizarro,  who  had 
left  San  Domingo  a  few  months  before  as  a  common 
sailor. 

"  The  brigantine  is  manned  by  men  who  sailed 
with  Ojeda,"  cried  Bachelor  Encisco.  "The  vil 
lains  have  mutinied  against  their  commander  and 
deserted  with  the  vessel.  I  will  arrest  them  and 
inflict  on  them  the  severity  of  the  law." 

Hurriedly  ascending  to  the  deck,  followed  by 
Balboa  and  five  or  six  men,  he  beheld  a  sight 
which  might  have  shocked  even  the  most  desperate 
of  Spanish  conquerors.  The  men  who,  but  a  few 
months  before,  had  sailed  away  full  of  vigor  and 
buoyant  with  hope,  had  dwindled  to  a  single  ship's 
crew  of  ragged,  miserable,  half-starved  wretches, 
who,  wild-eyed  and  savage  as  the  men  and  beasts 
with  whom  they  battled  for  existence,  glared  at 
Encisco  with  a  fury  that  might  have  made  even  his 
dauntless  spirit  quail. 


THE   MAN  IN  THE   CASK.  23 

"Who  is  your  commander?"  demanded  the 
Bachelor. 

"I  am,"  Pizarro  haughtily  returned. 

"By  whose  authority?" 

"Governor  Ojeda,  whose  lieutenant  I  am." 

Pizarro's  naked  sword  was  in  his  hand,  his  eyes 
flashed,  and  his  manner  was  so  ferocious  that  En- 
cisco  became  more  civil. 

"Where  is  your  authority?"  he  asked. 

Pizarro  produced  his  letter  patent  signed  by  the 
unfortunate  Ojeda,  showing  that  he  left  Pizarro  as 
his  locum  tenens  at  San  Sebastian. 

"Where  is  Ojeda?"  asked  the  Bachelor. 

"  Some  time  ago  he  sailed  for  San  Domingo  for 
reinforcements  and  supplies,  as  we  were  starving." 

"What  vessel  did  he  sail  in?" 

"With  Bernardino  de  Talavera,  who  joined  us 
with  a  crew  of  desperadoes  and  cutpurses." 

"I  fear,  then,  he  is  lost,"  said  Encisco.  "Ber 
nardino  de  Talavera  is  a  pirate  and  stole  the  ship 
in  which  he  and  his  desperate  crew  sailed.  Where 
are  you  going,  and  why  have  you  deserted  the 
colony?" 

"We  were  starving,"  replied  Pizarro,"  dying  by 
sickness,  famine  and  poisoned  arrows.  If  we  re 
ceived  no  news  in  fifty  days,  we  were  to  embark  in 
the  ships  left  with  us  for  Hispaniola.  We  v/aited 
fifty  days,  and,  not  hearing  from  Ojeda,  were  go- 


24  ESTEVAN. 

ing  to  embark  in  the  two  brigantines  left  us,  but 
having  seventy  men  and  only  two  small  vessels,  all 
could  not  go.  We  decided  to  wait  until  sickness, 
famine  and  poisoned  arrows  had  reduced  our  num- " 
bers,  so  that  we  could  all  go  in  the  two  vessels. 
It  did  not  take  long;  we  were  soon  sufficiently  re 
duced.  Then  we  killed  the  four  horses  left  with 
us,  and  salted  them  away  to  supply  us  with  food. 
The  other  brigantine,  commanded  by  Valenzuela, 
was  foundered  at  sea,  and  all  on  board  perished." 

One  of  Pizarro's  sailors  added:  "I  saw  a  great 
whale  or  some  other  monster  of  the  deep,  strike  the 
vessel  with  its  tail  and  stave  in  its  side  as  well  as 
shatter  the  rudder,  and  it  sank  so  near  to  us  that 
we  could  hear  the  cries  of  our  friends,  but  could  not 
aid  them." 

"Why  did  you  come  here?"  asked  Encisco. 

"We  put  in  for  provisions?"  Pizarro  answered. 

Encisco  being  of  a  sanguine  temperament,  not 
withstanding  this  melancholy  story,  determined  to 
proceed  to  the  conquest  of  Darien,  and  establish  the 
government  at  San  Sebastian.  Expeditions  made 
into  the  country  were  productive  of  rumors  of  gold 
in  the  interior,  which  raised  the  cupidity  of  the 
Spaniards.  Gold  was  said  to  be  so  plentiful  at  a 
place  called  Zenu  that  it  was  taken  in  fishing 
nets. 

It  was  no  easy  task  to  induce  Pizarro  and  his 


THE  MAN  IN  THE   CASK.  25 

starving  crew  to   return.      Balboa,    burning  with 
ambition,  secretly  urged  Pizarro  to  do  so. 

"Come  back  with  us,  Pizarro,  and  we  will  rule 
the  colony.  Ojeda  will  return  no  more,  no  one 
knows  where  Nicuesa  is,  and  this  wild  life  will 
not  long  suit  the  Bachelor." 

Pizarro' s  ambitious  spirit  at  last  took  fire  again, 
and,  with  his  crew,  he  returned  to  San  Sebastian 
to  battle  once  more  with  the  natives  and  explore 
the  wonders  of  the  New  World. 

Bachelor  Encisco  was  unsuited  for  governor  of 
the  colony.  The  good  generalship  early  displayed 
by  Balboa  soon  placed  him  at  the  head  of  every 
successful  expedition.  He  grew  in  favor  so  rapidly 
with  the  men,  that  Encisco  became  alarmed  lest 
this  man  whom  he  had  brought  away  in  a  cask 
should  depose  him.  At  Balboa's  suggestion  they 
landed  at  the  village  of  a  powerful  cacique  named 
Zemaco.  After  a  skirmish,  the  natives  abandoned 
their  town,  and  a  Spanish  colony,  under  the  name 
of  Santa  Maria  de  la  Antigua  del  Darien,  was 
formed. 

Encisco  had.  not  long  entered  upon  his  duties  as 
alcalde  mayor  and  lieutenant  governor,  when  there 
arose  dissensions  and  disputes,  in  which  Balboa  and 
the  Bachelor  were  arrayed  against  each  other.  In 
one  of  their  discussions,  Balboa  openly  defied  En 
cisco' s  authority. 


26  ESTEVAN, 

"Then  you  defy  the  power  of  the  king,"  cried 
Encisco.  "Ojeda's  commission  is  from  the  crown, 
and  I  hold  under  him." 

"You  are  not  in  Ojeda's  domain,"  Balboa 
answered.  "The  boundary  line  which  separates 
the  jurisdiction  of  Ojeda  from  Nicuesa  runs 
through  the  centre  of  the  gulf  of  Uraba.  Darien 
lies  on  the  western  side,  allotted  to  Nicuesa.  As 
lieutenant  of  Ojeda  your  authority  here  is  an  usur 
pation." 

This  bold  speech  being  uttered  in  the  hearing  of 
the  colonists,  most  of  whom  were  already  opposed 
to  Encisco,  sounded  the  death  knell  of  the  Bache 
lor's  power.  His  authority  was  set  at  defiance,  and 
a  few  weeks  later  he  yielded  up  the  reins  of  govern 
ment,  returned  to  San  Domingo  and  thence  sailed 
for  Spain. 

To  depose  Encisco  was  an  easy  matter,  for  most 
men  are  ready  to  assist  in  pulling  down,  but  to 
choose  a  successor  was  a  task  far  more  difficult. 
The  time  had  come  for  Balboa  to  act,  and  he  was  not 
slow  to  avail  himself  of  the  opportunity.  Some  of 
the  people  wrere  in  favor  of  Nicuesa,  as  they  were 
within  his  province,  and  while  the  discussion  was 
running  high,  Colmenares,  who  was  searching  for 
Nicuesa,  appeared  on  the  scene.  Balboa  was  will 
ing  to  do  what  was  fair  among  the  men,  and  favored 
an  equal  division  of  gold.  He  ruled  as  governor 


THE  MAN  IN  THE   CASK.  27 

de  facto  until  Nicuesa  was  found,  at  the  port  of 
Nombre  de  Dios,  in  a  miserable  starving  condition. 
From  Colmenares,  Nicuesa  learned  of  the  rich  and 
orosperous  settlement  at  Darien  in  his  own  domain, 
ind  set  out  to  take  possession  of  it.  But  he  proved 
as  injudicious  as  was  Encisco.  Scarce  had  he 
taken  possession,  when  he  said  to  Balboa: 

"Your  men  have  gold  taken  in  their  conquests?" 

"They  have,"  admitted  Balboa. 

"Where  is  it?" 

"It  is  theirs,  won  by  hardships  and  perils,  and 
will  but  ill  requite  them  for  what  they  have  under 
gone." 

Upon  this,  Nicuesa  flew  into  a  rage  and  swore 
the  gold  belonged  to  the  crown,  and  that  he  would 
punish  all  private  individuals  for  retaining  it. 
Pizarro  heard  the  remark,  and  as  soon  as  he  was 
alone  with  Balboa,  asked: 

"Are  we  compelled  to  yield  up  our  private  pos 
sessions?  " 

"Inform  the  men  of  the  governor's  demands," 
was  the  answer  he  received. 

The  cunning  Balboa  knew  that  this  decision  of 
Nicuesa  would  prove  his  ruin.  An  influential 
lawyer,  Bachelor  Carrol,  was  in  favor  of  dispossess 
ing  Nicuesa  and  selecting  Balboa  in  his  stead.  He 
became  bold  in  his  denunciation  of  Nicuesa. 

"A  blessed  change  we  have  made,"  he  said. 


28  ESTEVAN. 

"In  summoning  this  Nicuesa  to  the  command,  we 
have  called  in  the  stork  to  rule  who  will  not  be 
satisfied  until  he  has  devoured  us." 

Two  parties  immediately  arose  in  the  colony,  and 
Nicuesa  was  forced  to  fly  for  his  life  to  the  woods, 
and  then  to  his  brigantine  in  the  harbor.  The  life 
of  the  unfortunate  governor  was  in  danger,  and  Bal 
boa  began  to  relent. 

"Men  and  Spaniards!"  he  cried.  "Deal  not  so 
harshly  with  Nicuesa,  Eemember  he  is  a  gentle 
man  and  our  governor." 

"No,  no,  no!  We  will  receive  no  such  a  fellow 
among  us  as  Nicuesa,"  interrupted  a  brawling 
rascal  named  Francisco  Benitez. 

"  Take  out  that  brawling  jester  and  reward  him 
with  a  hundred  lashes  on  his  bare  shoulders  for  the 
remark  he  has  made  against  his  governor,"  cried 
Balboa. 

In  a  few  moments  the  howling  of  Benitez  was 
evidence  that  the  order  was  being  obeyed.  The 
colonists  were  outspoken  in  their  determination  not 
to  permit  Nicuesa  to  rule  over  them.  Balboa,  a 
gentleman  by  birth,  repented  what  he  had  done. 
He  had  not  anticipated  the  popular  fury  which,  in 
his  ambition  for  power,  he  had  helped  to  kindle. 
But  Darien  had  rejected  Nicuesa  and  would  not 
have  him  under  any  consideration. 

In  vain  Nicuesa   reminded   them    that  he  was 


THE  MAN  IN  THE   CASK.  29 

governor  of  the  territory,  and  that  they  were  guilty 
of  treason  to  the  crown  in  thus  opposing  him;  in 
vain  he  appealed  to  their  humanity,  and  protested 
before  God  against  their  cruelty  and  persecution. 
The  Spaniards  were  in  that  state  of  tumult  when 
they  were  ready  to  add  cruelty  to  injustice.  Not 
content  with  expelling  the  discarded  governor  from 
their  shores,  they  allotted  to  him  the  worst  vessel 
in  the  harbor,  an  old,  crazy  brigantine,  totally  un 
fit  to  encounter  the  perils  of  the  sea. 

Seventeen  followers  embarked  with  him,  and  the 
frail  bark  set  sail  March  1,  1511,  for  the  island  of 
Hispaniola,  but  was  never  seen  or  heard  from 
again. 

In  less  than  one  year  from  the  time  he  left  San 
Domingo  in  a  cask,  an  absconding  debtor,  we  find 
Balboa  governor  de  facto  of  Darien,  with  nations  of 
untold  wealth  all  about  him.  He  exhibited  wonder 
ful  ability,  both  as  a  conqueror  and  as  a  ruler. 
While  he  dealt  the  most  terrible  vengeance  on  the 
warlike  and  rebellious  natives,  he  conciliated  the 
conquered,  and  made  them  his  friends.  From  In 
dian  captives  he  heard  wonderful  stories  of  vast 
countries  beyond  the  mountains,  where  gold  was 
found  in  great  abundance.  Pizarro,  returning  from 
a  cruise  along  the  shores  of  the  Isthmus,  brought 
with  him  two  Spaniards,  clad  in  painted  skins,  like 
Indians,  whom  he  took  to  Balboa. 


80  ESTEVAN. 

"From  whence  come  you?"  asked  the  governor. 

"We  escaped  from  Nicuesa  about  a  year  ago, 
and  took  refuge  with  Careta  the  chief  of  Coyba,"  one 
answered. 

"Has  he  much  gold  and  provisions?" 

"He has  more  gold  than  you  have  ever  seen,  but 
it  and  his  provisions  are  concealed." 

The  stories  they  related  roused  Balboa's  cupidity 
and  he  resolved  on  the  conquest  of  Coyba  at  once. 
With  one  hundred  and  thirty  well-armed  men 
and  several  bloodhounds,  he  set  out  for  Careta' s 
dominions.  The  difficult  and  dangerous  march 
was  made  in  three  days.  Learning  of  their  ap 
proach,  the  cacique  received  them  kindly  just 
without  his  town.  Through  interpreters,  Balboa 
informed  Careta  that  they  were  hungry  and  thirsty. 

"If  you  are  hungry  and  thirsty  I  will  soon  sat 
isfy  your  wants,"  said  the  cacique,  and  he  ordered 
food  and  drink  to  be  brought  them.  When  their 
wants  were  satisfied,  Balboa  explained: 

"I  am  governor  of  Darien,  and  my  people  are  in 
want  of  food.  Will  you  give  me  food  for  the 
colony?" 

"I  am  sorry,  I  cannot,"  answered  Careta.  "I 
have  no  corn  nor  meat  to  spare.  We  have  long 
been  at  war  with  Ponca,  a  neighboring  cacique, 
and  my  people  were  prevented  from  cultivating  the 
fields." 


THE   MAN  IN   THE   CASK.  31 

One  of  the  ungrateful  spies,  who  had  been  so 
kindly  cared  for  by  Careta,  spoke  up: 

"  The  old  wretch  speaks  falsely,  Governor  Bal 
boa.  He  has  an  abundance  of  provisions  stored 
away  in  secret  places." 

"How  can  we  get  at  them?"  asked  Balboa. 

"Pretend  to  depart  for  Darien,  but  return  in  the 
night  with  your  troops  and  take  the  village  by  sur 
prise." 

Balboa  complied  with  the  suggestion.  Taking 
a  cordial  leave  of  Careta,  he  set  off  for  the  settle 
ment.  In  the  dead  of  night,  when  the  entire  village 
was  buried  in  deep  slumber,  he  led  his  men  back 
into  the  midst  of  it.  Slow  matches  were  lighted, 
arquebuses  loaded,  crossbows  strung,  and  lances 
couched  for  deadly  work.  Before  the  inhabitants 
could  be  roused  for  resistance,  the  cacique  and 
many  of  his  people  were  captives.  All  was  accom 
plished  without  the  shedding  of  a  drop  of  blood. 
Secreted  provisions  were  discovered,  and  two  brig- 
antines  were  filled  with  food  and  provisions,  and 
Balboa  set  out  for  Darien. 

Careta  was  separated  from  his  people  and  taken 
by  Balboa  himself  to  Darien.  Not  until  he  was 
brought  into  the  governor's  house  did  he  discover 
that  his  wife  and  children  were  prisoners  also.  A 
cry  was  heard  on  the  morning  air,  and  an  Indian 
princess,  all  glittering  with  ornaments  of  gold  and 


83  ESTEVAN. 

pearls,  burst  into  the  apartment  and  fell  weeping 
on  the  neck  of  her  captive  father.  The  new-comer 
was  Careta's  beautiful  daughter,  the  most  lovely 
aborigine  the  Spanish  governor  had  ever  seelrr-. 
Her  costume  was  wild,  but  becoming.  It  consisted 
of  a  skirt  of  tinted  doe-skin,  and  moccasins  orna 
mented  with  precious  jewels.  Her  abundant  black 
hair  was  gathered  from  her  forehead  and  fell  in  a 
glossy  flood  over  her  shoulders.  Escaping  the  gen 
eral  captivity  of  her  family,  she  had  followed  the 
Spaniards  to  Darien  to  learn  the  fate  of  her  parents. 

At  sight  of  his  favorite  child,  the  stoicism  of  the 
old  chieftain  forsook  him,  and,  giving  way  to  a  flood 
of  tears,  he  turned  on  Balboa  a  look  of  reproach. 

"What  have  I  done  that  you  should  treat  me  so 
cruelly?"  he  asked.  "None  of  your  people  ever 
came  to  my  land  that  were  not  fed  and  sheltered, 
and  treated  with  loving  kindness.  When  you 
came  to  my  dwelling,  did  I  meet  you  with  a  javelin 
in  my  hand?  Did  I  not  set  meat  and  drink  before 
you  and  welcome  you  as  a  brother?  Set  me  free, 
therefore,  with  my  family  and  people,  and  we  will 
remain  your  friends.  We  will  supply  you  with 
provisions  and  reveal  to  you  the  riches  of  the  land. 
Do  you  doubt  my  faith?  Behold  my  daughter,  I 
give  her  to  you  as  a  pledge  of  friendship.  Take 
her  for  a  wife,  and  be  assured  of  the  fidelity  of  her 
family  and  people." 


"WILL   YOU    TAKE    ME?" 


THE  MAN  IN  THE   CASK.  33 

Then  the  forest  queen  rose,  turned  from  an  ap 
pealing  father  to  the  stern-browed  conqueror,  and, 
smiling  through  her  tears,  took  one  timid  step 
toward  Balboa.  Each  graceful  action  and  hope- 
lighted  smile  seemed  to  say: 

"Will  you  take  me?" 

What  would  not  society's  queen  give  for  that 
simple  grace,  that  appealing  action,  natural  to  the 
untutored  maiden?  Her  marvellous  beauty  melted 
the  heart  of  the  stern  Spanish  conqueror,  and, 
clasping  her  in  his  arms,  he  exclaimed: 

"Your  father  is  saved,  and  you  are  mine!" 

Careta  remained  three  days  at  Darien,  during 
which  time  he  was  treated  with  the  utmost  kind 
ness.  Balboa  took  him  on  his  ships  and  showed 
him  every  part  of  them.  He  had  the  war-horses 
displayed  before  him  with  their  armor  and  rich 
caparisons,  and  awed  him  with  the  thunder  of  his 
artillery.  Fulvia,  the  Indian  maiden,  was  almost 
constantly  at  his  side,  evincing  a  fondness  for  her 
lord,  which  soon  become  a  passion.  Balboa  caused 
his  musicians  to  perform  a  harmonious  concert  on 
their  instruments,  at  which  the  natives  were  lost  in 
admiration.  Having  thus  impressed  Careta  with 
the  idea  of  his  wonderful  power  and  endowments, 
he  loaded  the  cacique  with  presents  and  permitted 
him  to  depart. 

Careta  joyfully  returned  to  his  territories,  and 
3 


34  ESTEVAN. 

his  daughter  remained  with  Balboa,  willingly,  for 
his  sake,  giving  up  her  family  and  native  home. 
Though  never  married  according  to  the  forms  of  the 
Catholic  religion,  she  regarded  herself  as  his  wife, 
as  she  was  in  sight  of  Heaven  and  according  to  the 
usages  of  her  country.  He  treated  her  with  great 
fondness,  and  she  gradually  gained  great  influence 
over  him.  Fulvia  became  a  chief  character  in  the 
great  tragedy  enacted  at  Darien  early  in  the  six-' 
teenth  century.  To  his  love  for  her,  Balboa  owed 
his  ultimate  ruin. 


CHAPTEE   III. 

AN    UNKNOWN   SEA. 

FULVIA'S  wild,  strange  beauty  was  in  harmony 
with  the  new  world  in  which  she  lived.  Balboa, 
the  gallant,  who  had  never  been  smitten,  though 
assailed  by  the  fairest  of  Spain,  yielded  to  the  power 
of  this  strange  being.  She  studied  his  every  want, 
and  seemed  to  live  only  to  make  him  happy.  His 
comfortable  home  was  daily  decorated  and  festooned 
with  rare  tropical  flowers.  All  her  trinkets  and 
golden  treasures  were  brought  to  adorn  their  little 
temple,  in  which  she  worshipped. her  lord  as  a  god. 
Being  intellectually  bright,  she  soon  learned  to 
speak  his  language,  and  her  mellow  voice  was 
heard  every  evening  breathing  soft  Spanish  words 
of  love. 

"You  are  a  treasure,  indeed,  Fulvia,"  said  Bal 
boa  one  evening  on  entering  his  home,  made  fra 
grant  with  rare  exotics.  "  I  regret  to  leave  you, 
even  for  a  few  days." 

"Must  you  leave  me?"  she  asked,  her  face 
growing  sad. 

35 


86 


ESTEVAN. 


He  was  about  to  answer,  when  a  howl,  issuing 
from  the  kennel  in  which  he  kept  his  bloodhounds, 
interrupted  him. 

"  Leoncico  scents  battle  afar  off,"  he  said. 
"Leoncico,   the   bloodhound!"    exclaimed   Ful- 
via,  pressing  her  hand  to  her  heart  as  if  she  felt  a 
pain  there.     "Does  it  mean 
another  conquest?" 
" It  does." 
"Against  whom?" 
"Ponca,  your  father's  en 
emy.     To-morrow  I   set  out 
with  Colmenares   and  eighty 
picked  men  to  aid  your  father 
in   his   war  against  Ponca!" 
He  paused  to  mark  the  effect 
of  his  words,  but  her  face  was 
still  sad,  and  Balboa  added:     "In  return  for  you, 
I  agreed  to  help  your  father  fight  his  enemies." 

"I  want  father's  enemies  conquered,  but  I  shall 
tremble  for  my  lord." 

The  governor  embraced  his  wife,  assured  her  that 
he  was  invulnerable  to  Indian  arrows,  and  sought 
to  calm  her  fears. 

At  early  dawn  next  morning,  eighty  picked  men 
were  mustered  on  the  plaza.  They  were  fine-look 
ing  fellows,  with  their  steel  helmets  and  nodding 
plumes,  arquebuses,  swords,  lances,  pikes,  and 


LEONCICO. 


AN  UNKNOWN  SEA.  37 

shields  of  wood,  to  ward  off  the  poisoned  arrows  of 
the  enemy. 

More  terrible  than  any  steel-clad  knight,  at  that 
grand  review,  was  Leoncico,  Balboa's  famous  blood 
hound.  Old  Spanish  chroniclers  describe  Leoncico 
as  minutely  as  if  he  had  been  a  favorite  warrior, 
lie  was  of  middle  size,  but  immensely  strong,  of  a 
dull  yellow  or  reddish  color,  with  a  black  muzzle. 
His  body  was  scarred  all  over  from  wounds  received 
in  innumerable  battles  with  the  Indians.  The  dog 
surveyed  the  line  of  steel-clad  men,  heard  the  clank 
of  armor,  and  set  up  a  howl  more  terrible  than  any 
war-whoop  of  savage,  or  thunder  of  artillery. 

"Be quiet,  Leoncico!"  commanded  the  governor. 
"You  shall  have  your  fill  before  we  return." 

"A  wonderful  animal,"  remarked  Colrnenares. 
"  They  dread  him  more  than  ten  mounted  knights." 

"With  good  cause." 

The  brigantines  were  ready  for  the  voyage  to  the 
country  of  Careta,  and  the  embarkation  had  com 
menced  when  Pizarro  approached  Balboa. 

"Am  I  to  be  left?"  he  asked.  "On  all  your 
former  invasions  I  have  been  your  companion.  Do 
not  leave  me  on  this." 

Balboa  was  a  man  of  a  generous  spirit,  and  he 
smiled  good-naturedly. 

"You  shall  not  be  forsaken,  Francisco;  you  may 
accompany  us." 


38  ESTEVAN. 

The  expedition  landed  at  Coyba,  where  they  were 
met  by  Careta  and  his  generals  with  a  cordial  wel 
come,  and  arrangements  were  at  once  made  for  the 
conquest.  The  war-like  cacique  Ponca,  having- - 
heard  of  the  powerful  alliance  which  his  enemy 
Careta  had  made  with  the  white  men,  felt  from  the 
first  that  there  was  but  little  hope  for  him.  How 
ever,  he  mustered  his  army,  and,  with  the  best  grace 
possible,  met  them  on  the  plain. 

A  thundering  volley  of  arquebuses  and  artillery 
was  followed  by  the  old  Spanish  war  cry,  "  San 
tiago!  and  at  them!" 

Pizarro  led  the  charge  of  the  horse,  and  Balboa 
of  the  foot  soldiers  and  bloodhounds.  Leoncico, 
with  the  howl  of  a  devil,  leaped  at  the  throat  of  an 
Indian  general,  brought  him  to  the  earth,  and 
crushed  out  his  life.  The  fearful  hounds,  war- 
horses,  and  thundering  guns  were  too  much  for  the 
Indians,  and  they  fled  to  the  mountains.  Balboa 
followed  up  his  signal  victory  by  ravaging  the 
country  of  the  conquered  cacique  and  sacking  his 
towns,  in  which  he  found  considerable  gold  and 
provisions. 

On  returning  to  Coyba,  Balboa  was  pleased  to 
meet  his  wife,  who  had  followed  him.  Through 
Careta,  friendly  negotiations  were  entered  into  with 
Comagre,  who  ruled  a  large  mountain  country  and 
had  three  thousand  warriors  at  his  command.  In 


AN    UNKNOWN  SEA. 


39 


company  with.  Careta,  the 
Spanish  army  set  out  for 
the  province  of  Comagre, 
which  was  situat 
ed  at  the  foot  of  a 


"SANTIAGO!  AND  AT  THEM!" 

lofty  mountain,  in  a  beautiful  plain  twelve  leagues 
in  extent. 

The  cacique  and  his  seven  sons,  followed  by  a 
numerous  train,  met  the  strangers  and  welcomed 
them  to  his  province.  The  Spaniards  were  con 
ducted  with  great  ceremony  to  the  village,  where 
quarters  were  assigned  them,  and  an  abundance 
of  provisions  and  attendants  furnished. 

The  dwelling  of  the  cacique,  in  magnitude, 
solidity,  and  architecture,  surpassed  anything  the 


40  ESTEVAN. 

Spaniards  had  yet  seen.  It  was  one  hundred  and 
fifty  paces  in  length,  eighty  wide,  founded  on  great 
logs  and  surrounded  by  a  stone  wall.  Balboa  and 
his  followers  were  made  subjects  of  special  attention 
by  the  cacique's  eldest  son,  a  tall  fine-looking  fel* 
low,  who  evinced  intelligence  superior  to  his 
brothers.  He  had  travelled  much  in  the  interior, 
seen  many  strange  people  and  wonderful  countries, 
but  regarded  the  Spaniards  as  the  greatest  people 
he  had  ever  met.  He  gave  Balboa  a  large  quan 
tity  of  gold  wrought  in  various  ornaments,  and  sixty 
slaves  taken  in  war.  With  his  usual  generosity, 
Balboa  set  aside  a  fifth  part  for  the  crown  and 
divided  the  remainder  among  his  followers. 

The  announcement  that  a  division  of  gold  was  to 
be  made  on  the  porch  of  Comagre's  dwelling  brought 
every  Spaniard  to  the  great  piazza.  The  gold 
weighed  four  thousand  ounces,  and  in  the  division 
a  violent  quarrel  arose  between  some  of  the  soldiers 
and  Pizarro,  who,  having  forced,  himself  on  the  ex 
pedition,  they  denied  the  right  to  share  the  profits. 
The  noble  young  donor,  disgusted  at  this  sordid 
brawl  among  beings  whom  he  had  regarded  with 
reverence,  struck  the  scales  with  his  fist,  scattering 
the  glittering  gold  about  the  porch. 

"Why  should  you  quarrel  for  such  a  trifle?"  he 
cried.  "If  this  gold  is  so  precious  to  your  eyes, 
that  for  it  alone  you  abandon  your  homes,  invade 


AN   UNKNOWN  SEA.  41 

peaceful  lands,  and  expose  yourselves  to  such 
sufferings  and  perils,  I  will  tell  you  of  a  region 
where  you  may  gratify  your  wishes  to  the  utter 
most. " 

Balboa,  who  had  been  at  the  other  end  of  the 
porch  when  the  quarrel  commenced,  came  up  just 
as  Fulvia  was  interpreting  his  speech. 

"Behold  those  lofty  mountains,"  continued  the 
young  savage,  pointing  to  the  south.  "Beyond 
them  lies  a  mighty  sea,  which  may  be  discerned 
from  their  summit.  It  is  navigated  by  people  who 
have  vessels  almost  as  large  as  yours,  and  like 
yours  furnished  with  sails  and  oars.  All  the 
streams  which  flow  down  the  southern  side  of  those 
mountains  into  the  sea,  abound  in  gold;  and  kings 
who  reign  upon  its  borders  eat  and  drink  out  of 
golden  vessels.  Indeed,  gold  is  as  common  among 
these  people  of  the  south  as  iron  is  among  you." 

Deeply  interested  in  what  he  heard,  Balboa 
quieted  his  companions,  and  turned  to  the  young 
cacique. 

"Where  is  this  unknown  sea,"  he  asked,  "and 
how  can  we  penetrate  the  opulent  regions  on  its 
shores?" 

After  a  moment  of  hesitation  the  young  prince 
answered : 

"  The  task  is  difficult  and  dangerous.  You  mu^t 
pass  through  the  territories  of  many  powerful  ca- 


42  ESTEVAN. 

ciques,  who  will  oppose  you  with  hosts  of  warriors. 
Some  parts  of  the  mountains  are  infested  by  fierce 
and  cruel  cannibals,  a  wandering,  lawless  race;  but 
above  all,  you  will  have  to  encounter  Tubanama, 
whose  territories  are  at  a  distance  of  six  days' 
journey,  and  more  rich  in  gold  than  any  other 
province.  This  cacique  will  be  sure  to  come  forth 
against  you  with  a  mighty  force.  To  accomplish 
the  enterprise,  you  will  require  a  thousand  men 
armed  like  those  who  follow  you." 

"How  have  you  gained  your  information?"  Bal 
boa  asked. 

"From  captives  taken  in  battle,  and  from  one  of 
our  own  people  who  was  for  a  long  time  in  captivity 
to  Tubanama,  the  powerful  cacique  of  the  golden 
realm." 

Having  some  doubts  of  the  marvellous  story  he 
had  heard,  Balboa  asked:  "Are  you  manufactur 
ing  this  story  of  the  South  Sea,  or  is  what  you  are 
telling  true?" 

"It  is  true,"  replied  the  young  prince,  "and  I 
will  establish  the  truth  of  it  by  going  with  you  at 
the  head  of  my  father's  warriors." 

This  was  the  first  intimation  white  men  received 
of  the  Pacific  Ocean.  As  religion  and  avarice  went 
hand  in  hand  with  the  Spaniards,  their  priest  bap 
tized  the  cacique  and  his  sons,  giving  to  the  former 
the  name  of  Don  Carlos;  then  Balboa  and  his  men 


AN   UNKNOWN  SEA.  43 

set  out  on  their  return  for  Darien  to  make  arrange 
ments  for  the  expedition  to  the  new  ocean. 

On  his  arrival  home,  Balboa  found  Regidor  Val- 
divia  returned  with  only  a  limited  amount  of  recruits 
and  supplies.  The  pseudo-governor  again  sent  him 
to  Hispaniola  with  a  letter  to  Don  Diego  Colum 
bus,  giving  an  account  of  the  wonderful  ocean,  and 
asking  him  to  use  his  influence  with  the  king  to 
engage  a  thousand  men  for  the  enterprise.  The 
royal  fifth  which  he  remitted  equalled  fifteen 
thousand  crowns  in  gold;  he  also  sent  presents  in 
curiously  wrought  golden  ornaments  to  Don  Diego 
Columbus,  Cortez,  and  Estevan's  baby  boy. 

Balboa  was  not  one  to  remain  inactive,  and  while 
awaiting  the  result  of  Yaldivia's  mission  he  pro 
jected  many  expeditions  into  the  interior. 

"  There  is  the  great  country  of  Dobayba,  which 
your  people  have  not  yet  seen,"  said  Fulvia  one 
day  to  her  liege,  while  she  sat  at  his  feet.  "It  is 
a  land  of  wonders,  and  while  you  wait,  you  would 
be  well  repaid  for  making  a  visit  to  it." 

This  was  the  first  time  he  had  heard  of  a  region 
called  Dobayba. 

"Where  is  this  region?"  he  asked. 

"It  is  forty  leagues  distant,  on  the  banks  of  a 
great  river  which  empties  into  the  Gulf  of  Uraba. 
Dobayba  derived  its  name  from  a  mighty  woman  of 
the  olden  time,  the  mother  of  the  god  who  created 


44  ESTEVAN. 

the  sun,  moon,  and  all  good  things.  She  has  power 
over  the  elements,  sending  thunder  and  lightning 
to  lay  waste  the  lands  of  those  who  displease  her, 
but  bestowing  fertility  and  abundance  upon  the 
possessions  of  her  faithful  worshippers.  They  have 
erected  a  great  temple  for  her  worship.  Here  the 
natives  repair  with  their  gifts  of  gold  and  pearls  and 
precious  stones.  Once,  when  they  failed  to  bring 
her  share  of  treasure,  the  goddess  caused  a  drought 
upon  the  land,  and  many  perished.  For  genera 
tions,  golden  offerings  have  been  hoarded  up  in  this 
temple,  until  it  is  said  that  it  is  filled  with  treasure, 
and  its  walls  covered  with  golden  gifts." 

In  rapt  attention,  Balboa  listened  to  the  narra 
tion  of  the  wonderful  legend.  The  Spaniards  who 
had  come  to  erect  temples  to  the  worship  of  the  true 
God,  had  no  hesitancy  in  desecrating  the  temples 
of  the  heathen,  and,  having  implicit  faith  in  Ful- 
via's  story,  which  was  corroborated  by  others,  Bal 
boa  determined  to  go  in  search  of  the  Golden 
Temple. 

Selecting  one  hundred  and  seventy  of  his  bravest 
men,  he  set  out  on  the  expedition  in  two  brigan- 
tines.  His  old  enemy,  Zemaco,  the  cacique  of 
Darien,  hastened  to  Dobayba,  and,  informing  the 
cacique  of  the  advance  of  the  Spaniards,  persuaded 
him  to  retire  at  their  approach.  Bleak  coasts, 
interminable  wildernesses,  deep  morasses,  and  de- 


AN   UNKNOWN  SEA.  45 

serted  towns  greeted  the  Spanish  conquerors.  Only 
a  few  miserable  people  living  in  houses  constructed 
in  tree-tops  and  reached  by  ladders  could  be  found, 
until  they  had  gone  farther  inland,  where  they  were 
greeted  by  ambuscades  with  poisoned  arrows. 

Balboa,  assured  that  he  would  find  the  temple  of 
gold,  would  have  continued  his  search,  had  not 
Fulvia,  who  with  only  one  attendant  had  followed 
him  from  Darien,  traversing  leagues  of  unknown 
wilderness,  brought  him  the  alarming  intelligence 
that  his  old  enemy  Zemaco,  the  cacique  of  Darien, 
had  induced  several  other  powerful  caciques  to  join 
him  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  general  attack  on 
the  Spanish  colony. 

"How  did  you  learn  this,  Fulvia?"  he  asked, 
on  receiving  the  startling  news.  She  hesitated  a 
moment,  and  then,  with  tears  in  her  eyes,  an 
swered  : 

"A  brother,  in  an  evil  hour,  was  induced  to 
enter  into  the  conspiracy.  He  tells  me  that  on 
the  tenth  night  from  last  night,  the  town  of  Darien 
is  to  be  attacked  and  every  Spaniard  put  to  death. 
My  brother  told  me  to  hide  myself  in  a  certain 
place  until  he  came  for  me,  lest  I  should  be  slain 
in  the  confusion  of  the  massacre." 

Balboa's  brow  grew  dark  as  he  said:  "Zemaco 
is  my  evil  genius  and  must  die.  Hasten  back  to 
Darien,  Fulvia,  and  I  will  follow  you  and  make 


46  E8TEVAN. 

arrangements  for  defence.      Send  for  your  brother, 
I  must  see  him." 

"Will  you  slay  him?" 

"No;  for  though  he  has  proven  himself  a  traitor"  ~*»-Vv  ., 
and  my  enemy,  he  is  your  brother." 

The  joy  of  Fulvia  knew  no  bounds.  She  hast 
ened  back  to  Darien  and  summoned  her  brother  to 
come  and  aid  her  to  escape. 

One  of  the  essential  qualities  of  a  great  general 
is  rapid  movement,  and  Balboa,  to  an  excellent  de 
gree,  possessed  this  qualification.  On  the  same 
evening  Fulvia's  brother  was  to  come  to  consult 
with  her  on  means  of  escape,  he  secretly  returned  to 
Darien  and  warned  every  man  to  be  on  his  guard. 

Fulvia's  brother  came,  was  put  under  arrest,  and 
confessed  everything,  admitting  a  deep-laid  plot  to 
assassinate  all  the  Spaniards. 

"The  chiefs  are  three  leagues  to  the  west,  in  a 
valley,"  he  added,  "with  five  thousand  armed  war 
riors  and  a  host  of  canoes." 

With  a  large  force  Balboa  surprised  the  army 
and  captured  all  the  chiefs  save  Zemaco,  who  was 
shot  to  death  with  arrows.  The  leaders  were 
hanged  in  the  presence  of  their  fellow-captives,  and 
this  put  an  end  to  the  conspiracy. 

Considerable  time  had  elapsed  since  the  departure 
of  Yaldivia  for  Hispaniola,  and  Balboa  became  un- 
e.asy  lest  Bachelor  Encisco  should  reach  Spain  and 


AN   UNKNOWN  SEA.  47 

prejudice  the  sovereign  against  him.  He  concluded 
it  was  best  to  repair  at  once  to  Spain  in  person,  to 
communicate  to  his  sovereign  concerning  the  South 
Sea,  and  ask  for  troops  and  funds  sufficient  for  its 
discovery. 

His  friends  opposed  the  plan,  and  most  deter 
mined  of  all  in  the  opposition  was  Fulvia,  who 
feared  to  part  with  him  lest  she  should  never  see 
him  more.  After  much  debate  and  contention,  it 
was  decided  that  Juan  de  Cayzedo  and  Rodrigo 
Enriquez  de  Colmenares  should  be  sent  in  his 
place,  instructed  to  make  all  necessary  representa 
tions  to  the  king. 

Being  only  a  pseudo-commander,  clothed  with 
no  authority,  Balboa  had  no  sooner  ended  the  In 
dian  war  than  internal  factions  arose  among  the 
restless  colonists,  threatening  the  utter  destruction  of 
Darien.  How  long  he  might  have  been  able  to 
manage  the  unsteady  populace,  it  is  impossible  to 
say,  had  not  an  event  transpired  which  diverted  the 
minds  of  the  Spaniards  from  their  internal  quarrels. 
At  the  moment  when  the  little  government  seemed 
about  to  engage  in  civil  war,  two  ships  from  His- 
paniola,  freighted  with  supplies  and  one  hundred 
and  fifty  men,  arrived,  bringing  a  commission  for 
Balboa,  from  an  official  who  probably  had  no 
authority  to  issue  it,  constituting  him  captain-gen 
eral  of  the  colony.  This  shadow  of  a  title  to 


48  ESTEVAN. 

authority  was  a  godsend  to  Balboa,  for  he  could 
not  have  held  his  people  together  much  longer  with 
out  it. 

As  if  to  counterbalance  this  good  fortune,  a  let^ 
ter  from  a  friend  in  Spain  was  received  a  few  days 
later,  containing  the  alarming  information  that  the 
deposed  Bachelor  Encisco  had  carried  his  complaints 
to  the  foot  of  the  throne  and  had  succeeded  in 
rousing  the  indignation  of  the  king  to  such  an  ex 
tent  as  to  obtain  a  sentence  in  his  favor,  condemn 
ing  Balboa  in  costs  and  damages.  Balboa  knew 
that  ere  long  he  would  be  summoned  to  appear  in 
Spain  in  person,  but  having  as  yet  received  no  legal 
notice  of  the  king's  displeasure,  he  determined  to 
push  out  at  once,  and  by  one  brilliant  achievement 
atone  for  all  the  past  and  fix  himself  firmly  in 
the  favor  of  the  monarch.  It  was  a  desperate 
undertaking  for  a  mere  handful  of  men,  but 
fame,  fortune,  life  itself  depended  on  the  prompt 
execution  of  the  enterprise.  To  hesitate  was  to  be 
lost. 

Choosing  one  hundred  and  ninety  of  his  most 
resolute  men,  and  taking  in  addition  a  number  of 
bloodhounds,  which  he  had  found  to  be  formidable 
allies  in  Indian  warfare,  he  set  out  on  the  perilous 
undertaking. 

With  the  faithful  Fulvia,  who  determined  to  ac 
company  him,  he  embarked  the  force  in  nine  pi- 


AN   UNKNOWN  SEA.  49 

rogues  on  the  first  day  of  September,  1513,  and 
sailed  to  Coyba,  where  he  rested  a  short  time,  and, 
leaving  his  wife  and  half  his  men,  on  September  6th 
struck  boldly  out  for  the  mountains.  Then  com 
menced  a  journey  which  for  trial  and  danger  has 
never  been  surpassed.  Death  ifi  a  thousand  forms 
faced  the  invaders  at  almost  every  step.  On  the 
second  day's  march  from  Coyba  they  came  to  the 
village  of  Ponca,  which  they  found  deserted.  The 
retreat  of  the  cacique  was  discovered,  and  Balboa, 
with  his  peculiar  faculty  for  winning  the  confidence 
and  friendship  of  the  natives,  easily  persuaded  him 
to  make  terms  of  peace,  even  procuring  guides 
from  him.  Captivated  by  the  kindness  of  his  con 
queror,  Ponca  confided  to  Balboa  the  richness  of 
the  country  and  assured  him  that  on  gaining  the 
summit  of  that  lofty  ridge,  which  seemed  to  rise  up 
to  the  skies,  he  would  behold  the  sea  all  spread 
out  before  him.  In  high  hopes,  the  Spaniards  set 
out  through  a  broken  rocky  country,  covered  with 
matted  forests,  and  intersected  by  deep,  dark,  and 
turbulent  streams,  many  of  which  it  was  necessary 
to  cross  on  rafts. 

After  days  of  toil  and  hardship  the  province  of 
Quaraqua,  an  enemy  of  Ponca,  was  reached.  The 
very  fact  that  the  white  men  were  coming,  guided 
by  subjects  of  his  enemy,  was  sufficient  to  incite 
Quaraqua  to  take  the  field  against  them.  The  In- 
4 


50  ESTEVAN. 

dians  were  armed  with  bows,  arrows,  spears  and 
double-headed  maces  of  palm  wood. 

In  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  the  Spanish  in 
vaders  came  on  this  formidable  army.  It  seemed 
as  if  the  very  heavens  would  crack  from  blowing 
of  conchs  and  yelling  of  Indians. 

"Remember  you  are  Spaniards  fighting  for  your 
king  and  the  Cross!"  shouted  Balboa, 

He  placed  the  arquebusiers  and  bowmen  in  the 
front  rank,  while  the  lancers  remained  in  the  rear 
to  follow  up  with  the  bloodhounds,  which  were  to 
be  let  loose  after  the  first  volley.  The  Indians  came 
with  terrific  yells  until  quite  close,  when  Balboa 
gave  the  command: 

"Open  pans!     Apply  matches!" 

Peals  of  thunder  and  flashes  of  lightning,  accom 
panied  by  strange  missiles  whizzing  through  the  air, 
followed  the  command,  and  the  natives  saw  their 
companions  fall  dead  and  dying  on  every  hand. 

Then  came  the  dread  cry,  "St.  Jago,  and  at 
them!" 

With  terrible  cries,  the  bloodhounds,  led  by 
Leoncico,  plunged  through  the  smoke  at  the  enemy, 
men  following  the  dogs.  Some  of  the  enemy  were 
transfixed  with  lances,  others  hewn  down  with 
swords,  while  many  were  torn  to  pieces  by  the 
dogs,  and  all  who  survived  the  slaughter  were  put 
to  flight. 


AN   UNKNOWN  SEA.  51 

"The  Cross  conquers  all!"  cried  Balboa.  At 
the  village,  where  they  found  considerable  booty, 
tne  Spaniards  paused  to  rest.  The  village  was  at 
the  loot  of*  the  last  mountain  which  remained  for 
them  to  climb,  but  some  of  the  Spaniards  were 
wounded  and  others  so  fatigued  that  they  could 
not  proceed  farther  that  day.  Here  Balboa  was 
forced  to  wait  within  sight  of  the  mountain  top 
commanding  the  long-sought  prospect.  Only  sixty- 
seven  able-bodied  men  were  left  for  duty. 

As  the  sun  descended  behind  the  mountain,  Bal 
boa,  sitting  on  a  large  stone,  gazed  off  on  the  bold 
peak  and  asked  himself  if  he  would  on  the  morrow 
behold  the  unknown  sea.  His  heart  beat  impa 
tiently  and  at  times  his  faith  was  shaken.  If  a 
great  ocean  lay  beyond  the  mountain,  then  Colum 
bus  and  all  previous  navigators  had  been  mistaken 
in  believing  this  country  to  be  a  part  of  the  Indies. 
If  it  was  not  a  part  of  the  Indies,  what  strange 
land  was  it? 

Next  morning,  September  26,  1513,  with  his 
remaining  followers,  he  set  out  from  the  Indian 
village  and  began  to  climb  the  height.  It  was 
rugged  and  steep,  but  with  indomitable  courage 
they  pushed  on.  About  ten  o'clock  they  emerged 
from  a  dense  forest,  and  arrived  at  a  lofty  and  airy 
region  of  the  mountain.  The  last  summit  remained 
to  be  ascended,  and  the  guides,  pointing  to  the  eini- 


E8TBVAS. 

,  Baid  that  from  the  top  of  it  the  southern  tea 
visible. 

}j^r<i!"  comr/iand^l  Ball^a  t/>  bi£  lol- 
jjjUHt  lx;  iirnt  tx>  ^a/>;  ofj   th<;'<x^;ajj.': 
With  palpitating  h^art  L«i  Ix^gan  tlj<;  aw^flt  of  tL^ 
loae   mountain-t/jp.     Would    he   l^boJd    tlie    uu- 


'*  -  •» 


known  wa;  or  wa;-;jt  a)i  a  d«;)u;-5on  of  the  Indians? 
H<;  clJnjho'i  on,  th<;  hum/nit  w:i;-  gained,  and— O 
joy!  h<;  wuc  hav<yJ!  h«;  Ladcarvwi  hiis liame f orevef 


53 

on  the  tablet  of  fame;  for  a  glorious  sea  burst  on 
his  view.  Below  extended  a  vast  chaos  of  rock 
and  forest,  green  savannas  and  wandering  streams, 
while  afar  the  waters  of  a  vast,  unknown  ocean 
glittered  in  the  morning  sun. 

Enraptured,  the  grim  warrior  fell  on  his  knees 
and  thanked  God  that  to  himself  was  given  the 
glory  of  this  discovery.  lie  called  his  followers 
to  his  side,  and  pointed  to  the  ocean. 

"Frier. vis."  he  said,  "behold  that  glorious  sight, 
so  long  the  desire  of  our  hearts.  Give  thanks  to 
God  that  to  us  is  given  this  favor  and  advantage, 
Pray  Him  to  guide  us  and  aid  us  to  conquer  the 
sea  and  land  which  we  have  discovered,  and  which 
Christian  man  has  never  entered  to  preach  the  holy 
doctrines  of  the  Evangelists.  As  to  yourselves,  be 
as  you  have  hitherto  been,  faithful  and  true  to  me, 
and  by  the  favor  of  Christ,  you  shall  be  the  richest 
Spaniards  that  have  come  to  the  Indies;  you  will 
render  the  greatest  service  to  your  king  that  vassal 
ever  did  to  his  lord,  and  you  will  have  the  eternal 
glory  and  advantage  of  all  that  is  here  discovered, 
conquered,  and  converted  to  our  holy  Catholic 
faith." 

Followed  by  his  men  he  descended  the  mountain, 
waded  into  the  ocean  up  to  his  waist,  and  took  pos 
session  of  it  in  the  name  of  his  sovereign.  What  a 
change  had  come  to  Yaseo  Xunc-  de  Balboa  in  three 


54  ESTEVAN. 

years!  From  a  rash  roister,  a  gambler  and  liber 
tine,  lie  was  converted  into  a  discreet,  politic  cap 
tain.  He  who  had  fled  his  creditors  but  a  short 
time  ago,  was  now  the  possessor  of  seas  and  lands. " 
Thus  it  is  that  men  are  often  made  by  their  for 
tunes;  their  latent  qualities  are  brought  out,  shaped 
and  strengthened  by  the  necessity  of  every  exertion 
to  cope  with  the  greatness  of  their  destiny. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

A     FICKLE      LOVER. 

FOR  the  present  we  must  take  leave  of  Balboa, 
in  the  flush  of  his  glory,  and  return  to  San  Do 
mingo.  Many  incidents  worthy  of  mention  have 
transpired  since  Balboa's  departure.  Ojeda,  who 
left  Darien,  landed  at  Cuba,  at  that  time  uncolo- 
nized,  and  finally  arrived  at  San  Domingo  to  die  in 
poverty  and  neglect.  In  1512,  an  event  trans 
pired  which  caused  some  comment  and  amusement. 
An  old  knight,  called  Ponce  de  Leon,  deceived  by 
Indian  stories  of  a  fabulous  fountain  which  had  the 
power  of  restoring  youth  to  the  aged,  set  out  to 
find  it.  He  failed  in  the  object  of  his  expedition, 
but  discovered  a  beautiful  land,  which,  from  its 
flowers  and  the  fact  that  it  was  discovered  on 
Easter  Sunday,  he  called  Florida.  As  neither 
populous  cities  nor  gold  had  been  discovered,  the 
land  was  thought  to  be  too  poor  and  insignificant 
to  colonize. 

A  Florentine,  who  had  accompanied  Ojeda  to 
the  New  World  in  1507,  returned  to  Europe  and 

55 


56  ESTEVAN. 

published  a  book  on  the  discoveries  of  Columbus, 
himself,  and  others.  English,  Spaniards,  Germans, 
French,  and  Portuguese  all  read  the  wonderful  book 
with  avidity,  and,  by  some  uncontrollable  law  of--^. 
circumstances,  christened  the  New  World  by  the  first 
name  of  the  author,  Amerigo,  or  America,  adding 
one  more  proof  to  the  time-honored  adage  that  the 
pen  is  more  powerful  than  the  sword. 

Asking  pardon  for  this  digression,  we  will  return 
to  old  friends  and  acquaintances.  Estevan  lived 
quietly  at  San  Domingo  with  his  wife  and  child. 
The  boy  grew  strong  and  health}^  Cortez,  the 
same  rollicking,  devil-may-care  fellow,  was  a  fre 
quent  visitor  at  his  house,  and  became  a  great 
favorite  with  little  Christopher  Estevan.  Before 
the  baby  was  able  to  toddle  about  the  house,  he 
used  to  sit  on  the  knee  of  Cortez,  pull  his  whiskers, 
and  crow  with  delight  at  the  grimaces  made  by 
the  young  cavalier. 

One  day  Don  Diego  Columbus,  the  admiral, 
came  to  Estevan' s  house  and  in  course  of  conversa 
tion  said: 

"Estevan,  I  have  determined  on  the  conquest  of 
Fernandina.*  Our  mines  are  almost  exhausted, 
and  we  need  more  territory  for  these  restless  spirits. 
Besides,  the  royal  party,  always  at  enmity  with  the 

*  The  name  originally  given  Cuba  by  the  Spaniards. 


A   FICKLE  LOVER.  57 

Columbus  party,  is  growing  strong,  and  it  would 
be  well  for  the  peace  of  Hispaniola  to  transplant 
them.  Will  you  accept  a  commission  to  subjugate 
the  island?" 

"Most  willingly,"  answered  Hernando  Estevan; 
"but  in  order  to  conciliate  the  royalists,  would  it 
not  be  better  to  commission  some  of  them?" 

"It  would  be  wise." 

"Then  do  it.  Who  among  them  is  most  compe 
tent  to  undertake  the  enterprise?" 

"Would  Don  Diego  Yelasquez  answer?" 

"  Yes,  and  make  the  Castilian,  Hidalgo  Panfilo 
de  Narvaez,  his  lieutenant." 

"I  thought  to  offer  that  to  you  or  Cortez." 

"  No,  for  sake  of  harmony  we  will  surrender  our 
claims." 

This  was  in  the  year  1511,  one  year  before  Ponce 
de  Leon  discovered  Florida.  Yelasquez  was  com 
missioned  governor  of  Cuba,  and,  preparing  a  small 
force  under  his  lieutenant  Narvaez,  landed  and  pro 
ceeded  to  the  subjugation  of  the  island.  That 
noble  old  priest,  Las  Casas,  having  the  good  of  the 
natives  at  heart,  accompanied  the  army  and  pre 
vented  as  much  bloodshed  as  was  in  his  power. 

Hatuey,  a  chief  who  had  fled  from  San  Domingo, 
finding  the  Spaniards  still  pursuing  him,  retired 
with  his  followers  into  the  interior  of  the  island 
where  he  made  a  most  desperate  resistance,  but  was 


58  ESTEVAN. 

overpowered,  captured,  and  sentenced  by  Velas 
quez  to  be  burned  alive.  At  the  stake  he  was 
urged  by  the  priest  to  embrace  Christianity,  that  his 
soul  might  find  admission  into  Heaven. 

"Will  white  men  go  there?"  he  asked. 

"They  will,"  answered  the  priest. 

"Then  I  will  not  be  a  Christian;  for  I  would  not 
go  to  a  place  where  I  must  find  men  so  cruel." 

It  evidently  never  occurred  to  the  Spaniards 
that,  in  the  name  of  Christ,  they  were  guilty  of 
acts  more  becoming  devils  than  men. 

Velasquez  diligently  occupied  himself  with 
measures  for  promoting  the  prosperity  of  the  island. 
Settlements  were  formed,  towns  laid  out,  and  St. 
Jago,  the  seat  of  government  on  the  southeast 
corner  of  the  island,  rapidly  grew  into  a  city  of 
importance.  The  governor  invited  settlers  and 
made  them  liberal  grants  of  lands  and  slaves.  He 
encouraged  them  to  cultivate  the  soil,  giving  par 
ticular  attention  to  sugar-cane.  Above  all,  he  was 
intent  on  working  the  gold  mines,  which  promised 
better  returns  than  those  of  Hispaniola. 

Hernando  Estevan  removed  with  his  family  to 
Cuba  among  the  first  settlers  of  the  island.  His 
emigration  was  the  year  after  the  old  knight  Ponce 
de  Leon  failed  to  find  the  fabulous  fountain  of 
youth,  and  the  same  year  in  which  Balboa  dis 
covered  the  unknown  sea.  He  built  him  a  neat 


A   FICKLE   LOVER.  59 

little  home  at  St.  Jago,  and  entered  into  a  prosper 
ous  business  as  a  planter  and  trader.  At  times  he 
felt  a  keen  desire  to  embark  in  some  of  those  golden 
enterprises,  but  his  business  and  family  duties  re 
quired  his  presence  at  home.  Years  rolled  on  and 
two  more  children  came  to  bless  his  home,  and  with 
such  domestic  ties,  he  was  contented  and  happy. 

Christopher  Estevan  was  a  strange  child.  At 
four  or  five  years  of  age  he  seemed  to  possess  the 
knowledge  of  a  lad  of  ten.  His  great  blue  eyes 
and  thoughtful  manner  indicated  the  student  and 
philosopher.  His  quaint  humor,  grave  demeanor, 
and  solemn,  unchild-like  manner  was  noticed  by 
all.  He  seemed  to  take  great  pleasure  in  wan 
dering  alone  in  the  deep  solitudes  of  the  forest. 
For  hours  at  a  time  he  would  watch  a  bird  build 
her  nest,  or  the  smaller  animals  of  the  woods  skip 
and  play  before  him.  He  was  happy  at  all  times, 
occasionally  boisterous,  but  usually  quiet,  loving 
solitude. 

His  fondness  for  Hernando  Cortez,  who  had  also 
emigrated  to  Cuba,  increased  with  his  years. 

Cortez  was  the  same  rollicking,  dashing  fellow  as 
of  old.  Although  a  libertine,  he  made  pretensions 
to  being  a  gentleman.  His  own  affairs  as  usual 
were  not  progressing  well,  for  he  was  in  another 
love  scrape. 

A   family    named    Xuarez   had    settled    on   the 


60  ESTEVAN. 

island.     They  were  poor  but  proud,  and  made  some 
pretensions  to  gentility,  even  claiming  noble  birth. 
There  were  four  sisters  in  the  Xuarez  family,  and 
Cortez  was  not  long  in  forming  their  acquaintance,"' 
and  in  turn  making  love  to  each. 

"Cortez,"  said  Estevan  to  his  friend  one  day, 
"you  will  get  into  trouble  again  if  you  are  not 
careful." 

"I  suppose  I  will,"  sighed  Cortez,  "but  I  am 
used  to  it." 

"Do  you  love  Catalina  Xuarez?"  Estevan 
askedj  and  with  a  light  laugh  the  merry  fellow 
answered : 

"I  really  don't  know;  sometimes  I  think  I  do, 
and  sometimes  I  think  I  don't." 

"Governor  Velasquez  seems  very  much  con 
cerned." 

"  Have  you  seen  the  governor?" 

"  Yes — only  this  morning  he  told  me  if  Her- 
nando  Cortez  jilted  Catalina  Xuarez  he  would  re 
gret  it." 

The  brow  of  Cortez  grew  dark,  and  striking  his 
fist  upon  the  table  at  which  he  was  sitting,  he  said: 

"Governor  Yelasquez  shall  not  drive  me  to 
matrimony.  If  he  wishes  to  be  my  patron,  why 
don' the  commission  me  to  some  conquest?" 

"The  governor  fears  you,  Cortez." 

Cortez  laughed  lightly,  but  there  was  a  flash  in 


A   FICKLE  LOVER.  6t 

the  young  man's  eyes  which  denoted  latent  ambi 
tion. 

"We  have  both  been  ill  used,"  he  said.  "Be 
cause  I  have  been  gay  and  frivolous  the  governor 
has  set  his  seal  of  displeasure  upon  me.  But  I  will 
lead  armies  to  victory  yet.  We  live  in  an  age 
fruitful  in  opportunites,  and  I  am  going  to  avail 
myself  of  them  despite  all  Governor  Velasquez  may 
do.  My  name  shall  be  remembered  when  that  of 
Velasquez  is  forgotten." 

With  impatient  eagerness  Cortez  rose  and  paced 
the  room,  while  his  brow  contracted  with  thought. 
Estevan,  amazed  to  find  his  friend  capable  of  a 
serious  thought,  watched  him  in  silence.  The  mood 
was  gone  in  a  moment,  and  his  mind  recurring  to 
his  love  affair  with  the  Xuarez  sisters,  Cortez  re 
sumed  his  seat  and  burst  into  a  peal  of  merry 
laughter.  Estevan  regarded  this  as  his  normal  con 
dition,  and,  with  a  smile,  asked  the  cause  of  his 
merriment. 

"I  was  just  thinking  what  a  time  the  Xuarez 
sisters  had,  determining  which  should  capture  me," 
he  laughingly  answered. 

"I  dare  say  you  made  love  to  all?" 

"That  I  did,  and  right  well,  too." 

"  Cortez,  though  you  are  my  beloved  friend,  you 
are  a  scamp,  and  I  am  ashamed  of  you." 

Cortez  laughingly  answered: 


62  ESTEVAN. 

"By  St.  Anthony,  such  a  declaration  from  any 
other  man  would  necessitate  my  calling  him  out; 
but,  Estevan,  your  tongue  may  wag  at  will — I  for 
give  you." 

The  child  Christopher,  who  had  been  playing 
about  the  door,  at  this  moment  entered.  He  was 
now  five  years  of  age,  and  a  child  of  much  more 
than  ordinary  intelligence.  On  seeing  Cortez,  a 
glad  smile  lighted  his  face,  and,  with  a  cry  of  joy, 
he  rushed  into  his  arms. 

"My  little  friend,  where  have  you  been?"  asked 
Cortez,  taking  the  child  on  his  knee. 

"Watching  men  beat  slaves." 

"Beat  slaves;  they  deserve  it,  no  doubt." 

"No  they  don't,"  the  child  answered.  "The 
men  are  bad  to  be  so  cruel  to  the  poor  Indians.  I 
found  a  dead  Indian  in  the  woods,  yesterday,  when 
I  was  watching  the  birds." 

"That  is  not  an  uncommon  discovery  nowa 
days,"  said  Cortez.  "It  was  some  native  who  had 
escaped  his  master." 

"Yes,  and  the  body  had  such  cruel  stripes  upon 
it,"  resumed  the  child.  "Then  it  had  been  torn 
by  dogs." 

"The  lazy  vagabonds  won't  work,  they  must 
die." 

"Would  you  want  to  work  for  others?"  asked 
the  child.  "Would  you  want  men  to  chain  you, 


A   FICKLE   LOVER.  63 

beat  you,  and  make  you  work  in  their  sugar-cane, 
or  mines?" 

"Estevan,  we  have  a  young  priest  here,"  said 
Cortez,  keenly  feeling  the  reproof.  "From  whom 
learned  you  this  lesson  of  humanity?" 

"  The  good  Las  Casas  says  you  do  wrong  to  beat 
and  kill  slaves." 

"I  warrant  that  it  is  the  argument  of  Las  Casas.  ' 
He  seems  to  espouse  the  cause  of  the  natives." 

Cortez,  who  did  not  care  to  hear  any  more  re 
proof  from  the  child,  put  Christopher  from  his 
knee  and  took  his  departure.  Cortez  lived  as  a 
genteel  bachelor  in  a  very  nice  house,  with  both 
Indian  and  negro  slaves  cultivating  his  plantations 
and  mines.  Negroes  had  been  brought  from  Spain 
during  Isabella's  time  to  ameliorate  the  condition  of 
the  Indians,  who  died  rapidly  under  the  galling 
yoke  of  slavery,  while  the  black  race  seemed  to 
flourish  in  bondage. 

On  reaching  his  house,  he  found  an  Indian  boy 
awaiting  his  return. 

"Do  you  come  from  the  governor?"  asked  Cor 
tez,  for  by  his  costume  he  discovered  that  he  was  an 
attache  of  the  hidalgo's  household. 

"  Yes,  senor,  I  have  a  letter  from  the  gover 
nor,"  he  answered,  and  he  gave  Cortez  a  sealed 
missive.  Hastily  opening  it,  the  youthful  cavalier 
read: 


64  ESTEVAN. 

"ST.  JAGO,  March  30,  1515. 

"SEXOR  CORTEZ  : — Your  conduct  is  very  unseemly.  You 
have  given  Catalina  Xuarez  to  believe  you  loved  her ;  you 
have  even  asked  her  hand  in  marriage,  and  now  you  have 
disappointed  her.  You  must  comply  with  your  promise.~~'v, 

"VELASQUEZ." 

The  look  of  indignation  on  the  face  of  Cortez  was 
quite  marked.  He  hastily  wrote  across  the  bottom 
of  the  page: 

"It  is  your  business  to  govern  Fernandiua,  and  not  to 
meddle  with  the  private  affairs  of  your  subjects. " 

With  this  reply  he  returned  the  missive  to  the     ; 
governor. 

Velasquez  next  day  met  Cortez  on  the  street  and 
openly  rebuked  him  for  his  unfaithfulness. 

"Why  should  you  care,  governor?  What  are 
the  Xuarez  sisters  to  you?''  demanded  Cortez, 
turning  on  his  heel  and  leaving  the  governor  to 
fume  and  swear. 

There  was  a  disaffected  party  in  the  island  who 
were  opposed  to  Velasquez,  and  Cortez,  soon  after, 
connected  himself  with  them.  They  met  at  his 
house  to  talk  over  their  causes  of  discontent,  among 
which  was  the  partial  distribution  of  land  to  the 
friends  of  Velasquez.  It  was  no  easy  task  for  a 
ruler,  however  discreet  and  well  meaning  he  might 
be,  to  satisfy  the  indefinite  cravings  of  speculators 


A   FICKLE  LOVER.  65 

and  adventurers,  who  swarmed  like  so  many  harpies 
in  the  track  of  discovery  of  the  New  World. 

Gerund,  the  jester  of  Yelasquez,  a  sort  of  priv 
ileged  character,  coming  suddenly  on  the  conspira 
tors  at  the  house  of  Cortez  one  evening,  overheard 
the  following  speeches: 

"Friends,  let  us  no  longer  endure  the  ill  treat 
ment  and  partiality  of  Velasquez,"  said  Cortez. 

"How  can  we  help  ourselves?"  asked  Estevan, 
one  of  the  party. 

"I  propose  to  lay  our  grievances  before  Don 
Diego  Columbus,  at  Hispaniola." 

"The  vovage  will  be  hazardous,"  answered  Es- 

*,•      o 

tevan.  "One  will  have  to  make  it  in  an  open  boat 
across  an  arm  of  the  sea  eighteen  leagues  wide." 

"I  will  do  it,"  declared  the  impetuous  Cortez. 
"I  will  be  your  embassador,  and  will,  myself,  lay 
our  grievances  before  the  admiral." 

All  were  well  acquainted  with  his  fearless  spirit 
and  knew  he  was  well  iitted  for  the  expedition. 
The  conference  lasted  late  into  the  night,  and  just 
before  dawn  of  day  the  intrepid  Cortez  was  to  set 
sail  for  Hispaniola.  Estevan  had  risen  to  go  home, 
the  assemblage  was  about  breaking  up,  when  there 
came  a  sudden  summons  for  admittance.  Cortez 
went  to  open  the  door,  when  he  espied  an  officer 
with  a  score  of  soldiers. 

"Betrayed,"  he  cried,  drawing  his  sword. 


66  ESTEVAN. 

"Hold!"  interposed  Estevan,  seizing  the  arm  of 
Cortez.  "We  can't  afford  to  resist  the  king's 
officers." 

"You  are  right,  but  Velasquez  is  revengeful  and 
may  hang  me,"  Cortez  answered,  thrusting  his 
sword  back  into  his  scabbard. 

The  officer  had  a  warrant  for  the  arrest  of  Cortez 
and  two  or  three  others,  but  Estevan,  who  expected 
to  share  a  like  fate,  was  permitted  to  go  free.  Had 
it  not  been  for  the  intercession  of  influential  friends, 
Cortez  probably  would  have  been  hanged  before  the 
first  torrent  of  the  governor's  rage  had  an  opportu 
nity  to  subside.  He  loaded  the  captive  with  fetters 
and  placed  him  in  prison.  The  second  night  of  his 
confinement,  the  fickle  lover  forced  open  the  win 
dow  of  his  prison  and  escaped.  Although  lodged 
on  the  second  floor  he  managed,  without  injury,  to 
let  himself  unobserved  down  to  the  pavement.  He 
then  made  the  best  of  his  way  to  a  neighboring 
church,  where  he  claimed  the  privilege  of  sanctuary. 

Next  morning,  as  Yelasquez  was  passing  the 
church,  Cortez  called  out  from  the  portals  to  him, 
with  a  good-morning  greeting. 

"What  are  you  doing  there,  you  rascal?"  the 
governor  demanded. 

"Claiming  the  privilege  of  sanctuary." 

"I  will  have  you  yet;  you  can't  always  remain 
there!"  thundered  the  enraged  governor. 


A    FICKLE   LOVER.  67 

He  hurried  to  the  town,  where  an  alguacil  named 
Juan  Escudero  was  found. 

"Juan,  do  you  want  to  earn  a  hundred  pistoles?" 
the  irate  governor  asked. 

With  a  smile,  Juan  answered  that  nothing  would 
suit  him  better.  "You  can  do  so,"  continued  the 
governor.  "  Hernando  Cortez,  a  vagabond  who  has 
been  breeding  dissensions  and  hatching  conspiracies, 
escaped  from  prison  last  night  and  is  hiding  at  the 
church.  Watch  your  opportunity,  and  when  he 
comes  out  from  the  wall  of  the  church,  seize  him." 

Eager  to  earn  the  reward  Juan  began  at  once  to 
spy  upon  the  church.  Little  Christopher  Estevan 
carried  food  to  Cortez  at  the  church,  for  the  child 
was  permitted  to  go  and  come  as  he  pleased.  On 
the  third  day  of  his  forced  confinement  in  the 
sanctuary,  Cortez,  enticed  by  the  silver  laughter 
of  some  senoritas  on  the  street,  ventured  beyond 
the  walls,  and  Juan  Escudero  suddenly  sprang  on 
him  from  behind,  pinioning  his  arms,  while  others 
rushed  to  his  aid  and  the  escaped  prisoner  was 
secured. 

"I  will  hang  you  for  this,"  cried  Cortez,  trem 
bling  with  rage  and  exertion. 

A  second  time  Cortez  was  put  in  irons.  -  This 
time  he  was  placed  on  board  a  vessel  which  was  to 
sail  for  Hispaniola  next  morning,  where  he  was  to 
be  tried  for  treason.  Though  the  charge  was  of  a 


68  ESTEVAN. 

serious  nature,  Cortezknew  that  the  Xuarez  family 
were  at  the  bottom  of  his  persecutions,  and  that  he 
could  put  an  end  to  the  trouble  at  any  time  by  he- 
coming  reconciled  to  Catalina.  It  was  an  odd 
courtship,  but  the  period  of  Spanish  conquests  was 
noted  for  oddities.  During  the  night,  Cortez 
slipped  his  irons,  crept  to  the  deck  of  the  ship 
anchored  in  the  harbor  of  St.  Jago,  and  climbing 
down  into  a  boat,  pulled  ashore.  Next  morning, 
looking  from  the  window  of  the  self -same  church, 
he  saw  the  governor  riding  by,  and  called  to 
him: 

"Good-morning,  governor,  do  you  wish  me  to 
remember  you  in  my  prayers?" 

Yelasquez,  amazed  and  enraged  at  the  fellow's 
impudence,  answered: 

"I  have  a  mind  to  hang  you!" 

"  You  might  save  me  for  a  better  purpose,  gov 
ernor.  I  am  coming  to  see  you  soon." 

The  governor,  overcome  with  exasperation,  rode 
away  and  Cortez  sent  for  Estevan.  On  his  arrival, 
the  jolly,  good-natured  prisoner  took  his  hand  and 
said: 

"I  am  in  a  devil  of  a  fix.  Here  I  am  cooped  up 
like  a  monk  in  a  cloister,  passing  the  days  in  study 
ing  the  carvings  of  the  altar.  I  have  resolved  to 
arrange  matters." 

"How?" 


A   FICKLE  LOVER.  69 

"I  will  marry  Catalina,  and  that  will  assuage 
the  grief  and  anger  of  the  governor." 

"Do  you  love  Catalina,  Cortez?" 

"Love  her,  my  friend?  Why,  a  poor  devil  like 
me  loves  all  pretty  women  alike.  But  I  must  make 
a  choice  at  last.  I  am  done  with,  this  roy storing 
life,  and,  when  I  am  married,  I  will  become  a 
man.  Go  to  Catalina  and  give  her  this  letter;  then 
bring  my  sword,  buckler,  and  daggers." 

Estevan  complied  with  his  friend's  wishes,  and 
that  same  evening  the  fair  Catalina  paid  her  fickle 
lover  a  visit  in  the  church.  It  is  evident  that  mat 
ters  were  satisfactorily  arranged,  for  she  quitted  the 
sanctuary  with  a  smile  on  her  face. 

"It  is  all  settled,"  Cortez  said,  next  day,  when 
Estevan  presented  himself  to  his  friend.  "Cata 
lina  and  I  have  made  up  our  quarrel,  and  I  am  go 
ing  to  call  on  the  governor." 

"Call  011  the  governor!   Are  you  mad?" 

"No.  I  will  beard  the  lion  in  his  den,  and 
within  twenty-four  hours  we  will  be  the  best  of 
friends." 

The  governor  was  on  a  military  excursion  some 
distance  from  the  capital  that  evening,  and  Cortez 
left  the  sanctuary,  and,  hastening  to  the  camp, 
presented  himself  unexpectedly  before  Velasquez. 
The  governor  was  startled  by  the  sudden  apparition 
of  his  enemy,  completely  armed,  before  him. 


70  ESTEVAN. 

"What  does  this  visit  mean?"  he  asked,  with 
some  dismay. 

"I  came  to  make  an  explanation  of  my  conduct, 
governor,"  said  Cortez,  coolly,  but  courteously."^ 

"You  have?  Don't  you  know  I  can  have  your 
head  cut  off?" 

"Yes,  but  you  won't." 

"Won't  I?"  cried  Velasquez,  his  anger  rising. 

"Sit  down,  governor,  calm  yourself;  pray  don't 
allow  yourself  to  become  excited." 

So  great  was  the  magnetic  power  of  Cortez,  that 
the  governor,  without  knowing  why,  obeyed. 

Then  Cortez  coolly  drew  a  chair  to  his  side,  and,  - 
seating  himself,  told  the  governor  of  his  reconcilia 
tion  with  Catalina,  that  it  was  his  intention  to 
marry,  settle  down,  and  become  a  good  citizen. 
The  governor,  charmed  with  the  boldness  of  the 
young  scapegrace,  and  overjoyed  to  know  that  there 
was  a  prospect  of  his  becoming  a  worthy  and  re 
spectable  citizen,  embraced  him. 

"  My  friend,  we  will  now  have  a  bottle  of  wine, 
and  you  shall  spend  the  night  with  me,"  said  the 
governor.  They  drank  until  both  became  merry, 
and  retired.  When  the  messenger  arrived  to  an 
nounce  the  escape  of  Cortez,  he  found  him  in  the 
apartments  of  his  excellency,  where  both  were 
actually  sleeping  in  the  same  bed. 


CHAPTER    V. 

LOVE    AND    DEATH. 

AGAIN  we  find  ourselves  in  Darien.  It  is  even- 
ing,  and  beautiful  is  the  moonlight  of  the  tropics. 
In  those  salubrious  climes  the  day  so  quickly  glides 
into  the  night  that  twilight  seems  scarce  a  bridge 
between  them.  One  moment  of  darker  purple  in 
the  sky,  of  a  thousand  rose  hues  in  the  bay,  of 
shade  half  victorious  over  light,  and  then  burst 
forth  at  once  the  countless  thousands  of  stars — the 
moon  is  up,  night  has  resumed  her  sway. 

There  is  a  great  bustle  in  the  little  village,  and 
on  the  soft  sounds  of  early  night  break  the  rude 
clank  of  arms  and  tread  of  tired  men.  The  rem 
nant  of  the  little  army  which  set  out  but  a  short 
time  ago  has  returned,  bringing  back  the  news  of 
the  discovery  of  an  ocean.  Never  Castilian  maid 
met  conquering  knight  with  more  joyous  affection, 
than  did  Fulvia,  who  flew  down  the  sandy  beach  to 
greet  her  lord  as  he  disembarked,  and  lead  him 
back  to  the  home  in  which  she  so  long  and  so 
anxiously  had  waited  for  him.  With  her  own 

71 


72  ESTEVAN. 

hands  she  prepared  his  evening  meal,  poured  his 
wine  for  him,  and  placing  him.  in  bed  soothed  him 
to  repose. 

Next  morning  Balboa  despatched  a  ship  and"* 
caravel  to  Coyba  for  the  companions  and  treasures 
which  had  been  left  behind.  Fulvia,  knowing 
something  of  the  importance  of  the  success  of  the 
expedition,  asked  if  he  need  now  fear  his  enemies 
at  court. 

"No,"  he  answered.  "The  discovery  of  that 
sea  will  silence  them,  and  elevate  me  to  the  highest 
favor  with  my  sovereign." 

He  wrote  letters  to  the  king,  setting  forth  all  he  ; 
had  heard  and  seen  of  the  southern  sea,  and  of  the 
rich  countries  upon  its  border.  Beside  the  royal 
fifths  of  the  expedition,  he  prepared  a  present  for 
the  sovereign,  in  the  name  of  himself  and  his  com 
panions,  consisting  of  the  largest  and  most  precious 
pearls  they  had  collected.  As  an  intelligent  and 
trusty  envoy  on  so  delicate  a  mission,  Pedro  cle 
Arbolancha,  a  true  and  well-tried  friend,  who  had 
shared  his  toils  and  dangers  and  was  fully  informed 
of  all  the  circumstances,  was  chosen. 

The  delays  of  his  ambassador  proved  fatal  to  Bal 
boa.  Bachelor  Encisco  pursued  the  usurping  gov 
ernor  with  such  relentless  fury  that,  before  the 
arrival  of  his  friend,  Don  Pcdranas  Davila  was 
appointed  governor  of  Danen,  and  sent  to  explore 


LOVE  AND  DEATH.  73 

tlie  unknown  ocean,  a  rumor  of  which  had  reached 
the  king. 

Before  his  arrival,  Balboa  enjoyed  a  period  of 
tranquillity  and  happiness.  He  devoted  his  time 
and  attention  to  the  improvement  of  his  colony,  and 
Darien  was  soon  the  most  prosperous  of  all  the 
Spanish  settlements  in  the  New  World.  If  he  en 
tertained  fears  that  affairs  were  not  going  right  in 
Spain,  these  fears  were  lulled  to  repose  by  lapse  of 
time.  One  evening,  while  reclining  on  a  cot,  Fran 
cisco  Pizarro  called  to  inform  him  that  a  fleet  of 
vessels  had  just  come  in  sight. 

"Perhaps  it  comes  from  Spain,"  said  Balboa,  his 
hopes  alternately  rising  and  falling  as  he  reflected 
that  the  news  might  be  good  or  bad. 

The  ships  belonged  to  the  newly  appointed  gov 
ernor,  who  fearing  the  redoubtable  Balboa,  anchored 
a  league  from  the  settlement,  and  sent  a  messenger 
on  shore  to  announce  his  arrival.  The  envoy,  hav 
ing  heard  so  much  in  Spain  of  the  powers  and  ex 
ploits  of  Balboa,  and  the  riches  of  Golden  Castile,  ex 
pected  to  find  a  blustering  warrior  maintaining  bar 
baric  state  in  the  government  which  he  had  usurped. 
Great  was  his  astonishment,  therefore,  to  find  this 
redoubtable  hero  a  plain  unassuming  man,  clad  in 
cotton  frock  and  drawers,  with  hempen  sandals  on 
his  feet,  directing  and  aiding  the  labor  of  several 
Indians  who  were  thatching  his  cottage.  The  mes- 


74  ESTEVAN. 

senger  cautiously  and  respectfully  approached  the 
conqueror,  who,  ceasing  in  his  labors,  turned 
anxiously  to  hear  him,  for  already  he  had  misgiv 
ings.  - 

"Senor  Balboa,"  he  said,  "I  am  a  messenger 
sent  to  announce  the  arrival  of  Don  Pedrarias  Davila, 
governor  of  Darien." 

Whatever  might  have  been  Balboa's  feelings  at 
this  intelligence,  his  features  were  too  well  schooled 
to  exhibit  any  emotion. 

"Tell  Don  Pedrarias  he  is  welcome,  and  I  con 
gratulate  him  on  his  safe  arrival, and  am  ready  with 
all  who  are  here  to  obey  his  orders,"  was  his  dis- 
creet  answer. 

The  envoy  had  scarce  taken  his  departure  with 
Balboa's  answer,  when  all  Darien  was  in  an  up 
roar.  Francisco  Pizarro  and  other  warm  adherents 
of  Balboa  were  loud  in  their  protestations  and  de 
clared  in  favor  of  resisting  the  new  governor  with 
force. 

"No,  it  will  not  do  to  resist  a  governor  sent  by 
the  king,"  said  Balboa,  "We  must  submit  and 
trust  to  time  to  right  our  wrongs." 

Next  day  (June  30)  Pedrarias  landed  and  at  once 
assumed  control  of  the  colony.  He  went  first  to 
Balboa's  house  accompanied  by  his  public  notary, 
Oviedo,  the  historian. 

"I  am  directed  by  our  king,"  he  said,  "to  treat 


LOVE   AND    DEATH.  75 

you  with  great  favor  and  distinction,  to  consult  you 
about  the  affairs  of  the  colony,  and  apply  to  you 
for  information." 

Balboa,  innocent  and  unsuspecting,  gave  him  all 
the  information  he  required.  During  the  interview 
Fulvia  remained  in  an  adjoining  apartment  trem 
bling  with  dread. 

"I  arn  sorry  that  you  gave  him  the  information 
he  required,"  she  said,  when  they  were  alone. 

"Why?" 

"Having  gained  it,  he  will  now  have  no  further 
use  for  you,  and  may  take  it  into  his  head  to  dis 
pose  of  you,  for  he  is  a  bad  man." 

Fulvia  proved  correct,  for  in  a  few  days  Pedra- 
rias  dropped  the  mask  and  proclaimed  a  judicial 
scrutiny  into  the  conduct  of  Balboa  and  his  officers. 

The  examination  was  conducted  by  the  licentiate 
who  had  come  as  alcalde  mayor,  but  Balboa's 
shrewdness  again  came  to  his  relief.  He  procured 
as  witnesses  none  but  his  friends,  who  described  his 
heroism  in  such  highly  colored  terms  that  Pedrarias, 
becoming  alarmed  lest  the  examination  should  ele 
vate  the  man  he  had  designed  to  crush,  stopped  it. 

At  this  time  a  fearful  epidemic  seized  the  town. 
Every  one  was  more  or  less  affected,  even  the  vet 
erans  of  the  colonies,  but  to  none  was  the  epidemic 
more  fatal  than  the  crowd  of  youthful  cavaliers, 
who  had  once  flitted  so  gayly  about  the  streets  of 


76  ESTEVAN. 

Seville,  and  had  come  to  the  New  "World  filled  with, 
the  most  sanguine  expectations.  The  governor 
himself  was  attacked,  and  for  days  lay  at  death's 
door.  * 

On  his  recovery,  Pedrarias,  finding  his  colony 
reduced  to  the  most  straitened  circumstances,  des 
patched  a  ship-load  of  starving  people  to  Cuba,  and 
sent  an  expedition  into  the  country  to  forage  among 
the  natives  for  provisions.  Fearing  to  increase  the 
popularity  of  Balboa,  should  he  appoint  him  to  the 
command  of  the  expedition,  he  entrusted  it  to  a 
favorite,  and  the  only  man  competent  for  such 
leadership  remained  idle  in  the  colony. 

Thinking  to  pursue  his  explorations  at  his  own 
risk,  Balboa  despatched  a  friend  to  Cuba  for  ships, 
men,  and  supplies  for  that  purpose.  This  was  all 
done  secretly,  however,  for  he  did  not  care  to  trust 
the  governor.  The  weary  weeks  that  followed 
were  passed  in  idleness  by  him  who  was  capable  of 
making  Darien  prosperous. 

One  evening,  as  Balboa  sat  dejected  and  broken 
in  spirit  in  his  hut,  Fulvia,  who  ever  remained  his 
good  angel,  came  to  report  a  vessel  loaded  with 
armed  men  off  the  coast  who  wished  to  consult 
with  him.  It  proved  to  be  his  agent,  Andres 
Garabita,  from  Cuba,  where  he  had  procured  a  ves 
sel  and  recruits  for  exploring  the  South  Sea. 

"I  must  communicate  with  him  at  once,"  said 


LOVE  AND   DEATH.  77 

Balboa  on  ascertaining  who  it  was,  and  he  rose  with 
the  intention  of  going  to  his  boat;  but  at  that  mo 
ment  the  tread  of  mailed  warriors  was  heard  with 
out,  and  next  moment  an  officer  of  the  governor 
entered,  and  seized  the  explorer's  shoulder. 

"I  arrest  you,  sen  or,"  he  said. 

"Away!"  and  Balboa  shook  him  off  and  laid 
his  hand  on  his  sword.  Realizing  how  dangerous 
it  would  be  to  resist  one  of  the  governor's  officers, 
Fulvia  seized  Ins  arm  and  implored  him  in  the  name 
of  her  love  to  make  no  resistance.  Putting  up  his 
sword,  Balboa  asked:  "On  what  charge  do  you  ar 
rest  me?" 

"  Treason.  You  are  in  communication  with  a 
strange  ship  of  armed  men,  and  it  means  treason  to 
the  governor." 

Although  Balboa  denied  any  treasonable  designs, 
Governor  Pedrarias  had  him  dragged  away  and 
confined  in  a  wooden  cage,  the  only  prison  the  town 
could  boast  of  at  that  time.  The  quick-witted  Ful 
via  was  not  slow  in  devising  some  means  for  the 
rescue  of  her  lord.  She  hastened  to  the  bishop  of 
Uarien,  told  him  what  had  been  done,  and  implored 
him  to  intercede  for  Balboa. 

"I  will  sec  about  it  at  once,"  answered  the 
bishop.  He  accordingly  went  to  Pedrarias,  and 
in  a  short  time  proved  to  the  satisfaction  of  the 
governor  that,  although  the  ship's  crew  were  friends 


78  ESTEVAN. 

of  Balboa,  they  entertained  no  treasonable  designs, 
and  the  prisoner  was  released.  The  bishop  urged 
the  governor  to  permit  Balboa  to  resume  his  ex 
pedition  to  the  South  Sea,  but  his  jealousy  was  too 
strong  to  listen  to  such  counsel. 

Pedranas  determined  to  conquer  the  South  Sea, 
especially  the  Island  of  Pearls,  himself,  so  he 
despatched  Gaspar  Morales  and  Francisco  Pizarro 
on  the  expedition  with  an  army  of  sixty  men. 
Balboa  was  left  behind  disconsolate  and  discouraged, 
and  passed  the  time  in  his  cabin  comforted  only  by 
his  wife,  who  remained  his  good  angel  in  his  darkest 
hours. 

Morales  and  Pizarro,  after  many  hardships  and 
conflicts,  reached  the  South  Sea,  and  with  four 
large  canoes  set  out  for  the  Island  of  Pearls.  They 
were  resisted  by  the  warlike  cacique  with  mad 
dened  desperation,  but  with  flashing  guns  and  the 
terrible  dogs  they  conquered,  and  the  cacique  made 
a  treaty  of  peace.  He  gave  them  a  basket  of  pearls, 
two  of  which  were  the  finest  that  had  ever  been 
known,  for  some  hawk's-bells  and  hatchets. 

"These  things  I  can  turn  to  some  purpose,"  said 
the  cacique,  "but  of  what  value  are  pearls  to  me?" 

On  discovering  that  these  baubles  were  precious 
to  the  Spaniards,  he  led  Pizarro  to  the  summit  of  a 
tower,  commanding  an  unbounded  prospect,  and 
pointed  to  the  west. 


LOVE   AND   DEATH.  79 

"Behold  before  you  the  infinite  sea,  which  ex 
tends  even  beyond  the  sunbeams.  As  to  these 
islands  which  lie  to  the  right  and  left,  they  are  all 
subject  to  my  sway.  They  possess  little  gold,  but 
in  the  deep  places  of  the  sea  around  them  are  to  be 
found  a  great  many  pearls.  Continue  to  be  my 
friends,  and  you  shall  have  as  many  as  you  de 
sire,  for  I  value  your  friendship  more  than  pearls, 
and  as  far  as  in  ine  lies,  I  will  try  never  to  for 
feit  it." 

He  then  pointed  to  the  mainland  which  stretched 
away  toward  the  east,  mountain  beyond  mountain, 
until  the  summit  of  the  last  faded  in  the  distance, 
and  was  scarcely  seen  above  the  watery  horizon. 
Then  he  told  them  of  a  strange,  far-off  land  of  in 
exhaustible  riches,  inhabited  by  a  mighty  people. 
As  he  went  on  repeating  the  vague  but  wonderful 
rumors  of  wealth  and  splendor  which  the  Spaniards 
had  so  often  heard  of  the  kingdom  of  Peru,  Pizarro's 
cupidity  was  roused  and  he  greedily  listened,  while 
his  dark,  flashing  eye  followed  the  finger  of  the 
cacique  along  the  line  of  shadowy  coast,  and  his 
daring  mind  kindled  with  the  thought  of  conquer 
ing  this  golden  empire. 

The  expedition,  though  fruitful  in  rumors  of 
Peruvian  splendor,  was,  beyond  a  few  pearls,  of  no 
practical  results.  Pedranas  set  on  foot  various 
other  expeditions,  all  of  which  failed  to  meet  with 


80  ESTEVAN. 

the  success  desired,  and  the  people  began  to  mur 
mur  at  his  neglect  of  Balboa,  who  alone  led  to  vic 
tory. 

"Why  not  give  us  our  leader,  and  then -we  car*, 
conquer    these    rich     countries,"    they    declared.. 
The  politic  bishop,  becoming  alarmed  at  the  uneasy 
state  of  the  public  mind,  sought  to  bring  about  a 
reconciliation. 

"Governor  Peclrarias,"  said  he,  one  day,  on  call 
ing  at  his  house,  "your  treatment  of  Balboa  is 
odious  to  the  people,  and  must  eventually  draw  upon 
you  the  displeasure  of  the  king." 

"Balboa  is  a    dangerous  man,"   Pedrarias  an-  ; 
swered.     "He  usurped  one  governorship  and  might 
another." 

"But  why  persist  in  forcing  a  man  to  become 
your  deadliest  enemy,  whom  you  may  grapple  to 
your  side  as  your  firmest  friend?"  added  the 
bishop.  "  You  have  several  daughters — give  him 
one  in  marriage;  you  will  then  have  for  a  son-in- 
law  a  man  of  merit  and  popularity,  who  is  a  hidalgo 
by  birth,  and  a  favorite  of  the  king.  You  are  in 
firm  and  well  advanced  in  life,  while  he  is  in  the 
prime  and  vigor  of  his  days  and  possessed  of  great 
activity.  You  can  make  him  your  lieutenant;  and 
while  you  repose  from  your  toils,  he  can  carry  on 
the  affairs  of  the  colony  with  spirit  and  enterprise, 
and  all  his  achievements  will  redound  to  the  ad- 


LOVE  AND   DEATH.  81 

vancement  of  your  family,  and  splendor  of  your 
administration." 

"But  Balboa  already  has  a  wife,"  said  the  gov 
ernor. 

With  a  smile  the  bishop  answered. 

"He  has  an  Indian  mistress,  but  has  never  wed 
according  to  the  forms  of  the  church.  I  will  dis 
solve  the  ties  which  bind  him  to  her." 

Both  the  governor  and  his  wife  were  won  by  the 
bishop  to  his  way  of  thinking,  and  soon  after  Bal 
boa  was  notified  that  the  governor  had  made  him 
his  lieutenant,  and  would  entrust  him  with  the  ex 
ploration  of  the  South  Sea. 

Almost  ere  he  knew  it,  Balboa  was  in  the  high 
career  of  prosperity.  His  most  implacable  enemy 
was  now  his  dearest  friend,  and  was  loading  him 
with  favors.  The  daughter  whom  the  matchmaking 
bishop  designed  to  become  Balboa's  bride  was  yet 
in  Spain,  but  had  been  sent  for.  Meanwhile  active 
preparations  were  made  for  exploring  the  South 
Sea.  He  went  to  Acla,  where  men  and  money 
were  furnished  him  for  constructing  four  brigan- 
tines  to  be  launched  in  the  Pacific  or  South  Sea. 
Timber  was  felled  on  the  Atlantic  seaboard,  and, 
with  the  anchors  and  rigging,  transported  across  the 
lofty  ridge  of  mountains  to  the  opposite  shores  of  the 
isthmus.  For  this  duty  several  Spaniards,  thirty 
negroes,  and  an  army  of  Indians  were  employed. 
6 


82  ESTEVAN. 

Arduous  and  almost  impossible  as  the  task  may 
seem,  the  vessels  were  built  and  launched.  The 
town  of  Panama  was  laid  out  on  the  Pacific  side, 
and  thither  came  many  Spaniards  with  their  fami,. 
lies,  and  thither  came  Fulvia.  The  explorer  had 
just  returned  from  a  short  cruise  and  was  building 
larger  vessels  with  the  intention  of  exploring  Peru, 
when  his  wife  joined  him.  There  was  a  mysterious 
change  in  Fulvia  which  Balboa  could  not  under 
stand.  She  was  silent  and  sad.  No  more  she 
greeted  him  with  the  fond  affection  of  old,  and  one 
evening  on  entering  the  house  he  found  her  bathed 
in  tears. 

'"What  grieves  you,  Fulvia?"  he  asked. 

"  I  know  why  the  governor  has  changed  toward 
you!"  she  answered.  "He  has  sent  to  Spain  for 
his  daughter  who  is  to  become  your  wife,  and  then 
poor  Fulvia  is  to  be  cast  aside,  or,  perhaps,  de 
voured  by  Leoncico." 

Moved  by  her  love  and  grief,  Balboa  clasped  the 
beautiful  princess  in  his  arms  and  cried: 

"  Fulvia,  you  are  my  wife,  and  I  swear  I  will 
have  none  other." 

Startled  by  the  declaration,  Fulvia  was  silent  for 
a  moment;  then  a  strange  dread  came  over  her. 

"  You  will  have  to  wed  the  governor's  daughter; 
it  will  be  death  to  refuse,"  she  said. 

"Fulvia,  I  can  now  defy  the  governor." 


LOVE   AND    DEATH.  83 

"Do  not  defy  fate.  Kemember  the  prediction 
of  Micer  Codro,  the  astrologer,  of  which  you  have 
told  me." 

With  an  incredulous  laugh  he  answered:  "Be 
hold  the  wisdom  of  those  who  believe  in  soothsayers, 
and,  above  all,  in  such  an  astrologer  as  Micer 
Codro!  According  to  his  prophecy,  I  should  now 
be  in  imminent  peril  of  my  life;  yet  here  I  am, 
within  reach  of  all  my  wishes,  sound  in  health, 
with  four  brigantines  and  three  hundred  men  at  my 
command,  and  on  the  point  of  exploring  this  great 
southern  sea.  Above  all  I  have  for  my  wife  a 
princess  whom  I  would  not  exchange  for  the 
daughter  of  a  king,  much  less  a  governor." 

A  footstep  startled  them,  and,  turning  their  eyes 
toward  the  door,  they  beheld  the  scowling  face  of 
Andres  Garabito,  Balboa's  agent  in  exploring  the 
South  Sea.  Being  infatuated  with  the  beautiful 
Fulvia,  Garabito  was  madly  jealous  of  Balboa. 
The  rumor  which  spread  over  the  colony  that  Bal 
boa  was  towed  the  governor's  daughter  gave  Gara 
bito  a  hope,  but  what  he  had  just  heard  and  seen 
dispelled  it.  Madly  jealous,  he  seized  the  first  op 
portunity  to  write  the  following  to  Pedrarias: 

"PANAMA,  September  4,  1517 
"GOVERNOR  PEDRARIAS:— 

"  In  the  name  of  our  Gracious  Majestie  :  I  have  to  tell 
you  of  many  things  which  it  sorely  grieves  my  heart  to 


84  ESTEVAN. 

relate.  Vasco  Nunez  de  Balboa,  whom  you  trust,  is  false 
to  you,  and  is  even  now  forming  an  insurrection  against 
your  authoritie.  He  has  three  hundred  men  and  four 
brigantines  and  will  defy  you.  Yielding  most  ungra 
ciously  to  the  influence  of  his  Indian  paramour,  Fulvia^ 
the  daughter  of  Careta,  he  has  no  intention  of  solemnizing 
his  marriage  with  your  daughter  He  has  merely  made 
use  of  the  friendship  of  Pedrarias  to  further  his  own  self 
ish  views,  and,  as  soon  as  his  ships  are  ready,  will  throw 
off  all  allegiance  to  you,  and  put  to  sea  as  an  independent 
commander,  for  so  have  I  heard  him  declare  this  very 

day. 

"  ANDRES   GARABITO.  " 


Not  content  with  sending  this  mischievous  mis 
sive,  Garabito,  who  was  entrusted  with  a  message  to; 
the  governor,  managed  at  Darien  to  have  himself 
arrested,  and  made  a  confession  of  his  own  guilt 
with  Balboa  in  a  conspiracy.  The  effect  of  all  this 
on  the  hard  and  jealous  governor  can  be  better 
imagined  than  described.  His  wrath  knew  no 
bounds. 

"Rejects  my  daughter  for  an  Indian,  does  he? 
He  shall  die,  I  will  strike  off  his  head." 

Meanwhile,  Balboa,  unaware  of  the  pitfall  yawn 
ing  at  his  unwary  feet,  was  pushing  with  all  pos 
sible  speed  his  preparations  for  a  voyage  on  the 
South  Sea.  Every  arrangement  had  been  com 
pleted,  and,  with  Fulvia,  he  carne  ashore  to  take 
the  last  leave  of  their  recent  happy  home,  before 
plunging  into  the  great  unknown. 


LOVE  AND   DEATH.  85 

"Let  us  set  sail  at  once!"  pleaded  Fulvia.  "There 
is  no  safety  for  us  save  in  tlie  unknown  sea." 

"  We  will  sail  in  the  morning, "  Balboa  answered. 
"  This  is  the  last  night  we  shall  spend  on  the  shore. " 

He  sat  in  the  door  of  his  house,  his  wife  on  a 
low  stool  at  his  feet,  when  the  tramp  of  hoofs 
reached  their  ears,  and  looking  down  the  path, 
almost  hidden  "by  the  dim  gray  twilight,  they  saw  a 
horseman  approaching. 

"The  governor' s messenger !"  exclaimed  Fulvia. 

"What  have  you?"  asked  Balboa,  as  the  mes 
senger  drew  in  his  reeking  steed  at  the  door. 

"  A  letter  from  the  governor,"  answered  the  mes 
senger,  handing  him  a  sealed  missive.  While  the 
messenger  was  gone  to  secure  rest  and  refreshments, 
Balboa  broke  the  seal.  The  letter  was  a  hypocriti 
cal  missive  inviting  Balboa  to  an  interview  at  Acla, 
and  so  carefully  had  the  deceitful  governor  worded 
it  that  it  awakened  no  suspicion  in  his  heart. 

"Will  you  go  to  Acla?"  Fulvia  asked,  when 
the  letter  was  read. 

"  Certainly.  The  governor  has  summoned  me 
for  an  interview,  and  I  will  obey." 

"I  dread  your  going." 

"Wherefore  should  you?" 

"I  know  not  why;  but  I  dread  the  governor. 
He  talks  with  a  forked  tongue,  and  his  paper  has 
an  inperceivable  falsehood  in  it." 


86  ESTEVAN. 

The  conqueror  laughed  at  his  wife's  fears,  kissed 
her  a  good-night,  and  made  preparations  for  the 
journey.  At  early  dawn  he  was  on  the  road,  which 
had  now  become  a  considerable  thoroughfare,  ac*- 
companied  by  the  messengers  who  had  come  for  him. 
Won  by  his  frank,  open  manner,  they  repented 
that  they  were  leading  him  into  a  snare,  and  told 
him  something  of  the  governor's  hostile  intentions. 

"I  have  not  been  guilty  of  treason,"  said  Bal 
boa.  "Then  I  have  friends  at  court  who  will  pro 
tect  me.  I  will  face  the  governor  and  dispel  his 
fears." 

As  they  pressed  on,  he  descried  a  band  of  horse-  '- 
men  in  glittering  armor  coming  up  the  road. 

"It  is  Captain  Pizarro  and  cavaliers,"  said  one  of 
the  messengers.  Pizarro  being  a  friend,  Balboa 
entertained  no  fears  of  him,  and  rode  boldly  toward 
the  cavalcade.  When  the  two  parties  met,  Pizarro 
rode  directly  to  the  side  of  Balboa.  "I  must  ar 
rest  you,"  he  said. 

"How  is  this,  Francisco?"  exclaimed  Balboa. 
"Is  this  the  way  you  have  been  accustomed  to  re 
ceive  me?" 

"I  am  only  obeying  the  orders  of  the  governor." 

"Having  never  resisted  or  disobeyed  a  superior 
officer,  I  shall  not  do  so  now,"  returned  Balboa. 

Offering  no  resistance,  he  was  taken  in  chains  to 
Acla,  where  he  was  thrown  into  prison,  and  Barto- 


LOVE  AND   DEATH.  87 

lome  Hurtado,  once  his  favorite  officer,  was  sent  to 
take  command  of  his  squadron. 

Bad  news  flies  on  the  wings  of  the  morning,  and 
in  an  incredibly  short  time  Fulvia  heard  of  her 
lord's  arrest.  She  hurried  to  Acla  to  console  him 
with  her  presence,  but  was  refused  admission.  The 
trial  was  a  farce.  On  the  testimony  of  Andres 
Garabito  and  a  sentinel,  who  had  also  overheard 
what  Balboa  had  said  to  Fulvia,  he  was  convicted. 
Fulvia,  being  a  heathen,  was  not  permitted  to  tes 
tify  in  his  behalf,  and  Balboa  was  convicted  of 
treason  and  sentenced  to  death. 

The  governor,  upbraiding  the  doomed  man,  said: 
"  Hitherto,  I  have  treated  you  as  a  son,  because  I 
thought  you  loyal  to  your  king  and  to  his  repre 
sentative,  but,  as  you  have  meditated  rebellion 
against  the  crown  of  Castile,  I  cast  you  off  from  my 
affections,  and  shall  henceforth  treat  you  as  an 
enemy." 

Balboa  indignantly  denied  the  charge, and  referred 
to  the  confiding  frankness  of  his  conduct  as  a  proof 
of  his  innocence. 

"  Had  I  been  conscious  of  my  guilt,  what  could 
have  induced  me  to  come  here  and  put  myself  in 
your  power?"  he  asked.  "Had  I  meditated  re 
bellion,  what  prevented  me  from  carrying  it  into 
effect?  I  had  four  ships  ready  to  weigh  anchor, 
three  hundred  brave  men  at  my  command,  and  an. 


88  ESTEVAN. 

open  sea  before  me.  "What  had  I  to  do  but  spread 
sail  and  press  forward?  There  was  no  doubt  of 
finding  a  land,  whether  rich  or  poor,  sufficient  for 
me  and  mine,  far  beyond  reach  of  your  control."  -In 
the  innocence  of  my  heart  I  came  here  promptly 
at  your  request,  and  my  reward  is  slander,  indig 
nity,  chains,  and  death!" 

Unable  to  answer  an  appeal  so  noble  and  gen 
erous,  Pedrarias  left  the  prison  cell  and  went  out 
upon  the  street.  As  he  was  going,  some  one  touched 
his  arm  and  a  soft  musical  voice  imploringly  asked: 

"Can  I  see  him?  Can  I  see  him?  Please, 
governor,  let  me  see  him!" 

"It's  Fulvia!"  cried  the  governor.  "Fulvia, 
the  wild  she -devil  who  has  bewitched  him.  Away! 
or  I  will  set  the  dogs  on  you." 

The  frightened  Fulvia  ran  away,  but  hovered 
near,  hoping  to  be  able  to  get  a  glimpse  of  her  hus 
band.  Again  and  again  did  Pedrarias  drive  her 
into  the  wood,  threatening  her  with  the  dogs,  until 
the  populace,  incensed  at  his  cruelty,  determined 
that  she  should  talk  with  the  doomed  man.  So 
urgently  did  they  insist,  that,  on  the  night  before 
the  execution,  the  interview  was  granted.  ,  Fulvia 
rushed  into  the  arms  of  Balboa,  and  burying  her 
face  on  his  shoulder,  gave  way  to  sobs. 

"It  is  I  who  have  brought  you  to  death,"  she 
cried,  when  he  sought  to  soothe  her.  "Denounce 


LOVE  AND   DEATH.  89 

me,  cast  me  from  you,  wed  the  governor's  daughter, 
and  live." 

"  No,  Fulvia,  I  prefer  death  with  your  love  to  a 
kingdom  without  it,"  answered  the  hero,  with  a 
smile. 

The  dread  morning  of  execution  came.  A 
scaffold  had  been  built,  and  the  grim  executioner, 
with  his  black  mask  over  his  face,  stood  by  the 
fatal  block,  leaning  on  his  great  shining  axe. 
Three  of  Balboa's  officers  had  been  doomed  to  die 
with  him,  and  from  a  secret  place  between  the  reeds 
of  a  wall,  Pedrarias  was  a  witness  to  the  bloody 
scene.  The  scaffold  was  in  the  plaza  or  public  square 
of  Acla,  and  the  prisoners,  under  a  strong  guard, 
were  marched  toward  it. 

From  the  hill  a  weeping  woman  watched  them, 
and  as  they  drew  near  the  fatal  scaffold,  she  ran  to 
them  crying:  "Let  it  be  me.  I  am  guilty,  not 
he." 

"Away,  she-devil!"  shouted  a  soldier,  striking 
her  with  the  pole  of  his  lance.  "Away,  lest  I  run 
you  through." 

"  Slay  me,  if  you  will,  but  spare  him!"  she  cried. 

"Ask  nothing  of  them,"  said  Balboa.  "Let 
not  your  tears  rejoice  their  hearts." 

The  public  crier  who  walked  before  Balboa,  at  this 
moment  proclaimed :  "This  is  the  punishment  in 
flicted  by  command  of  the  king  and  his  lieutenant. 


90  ESTEVAN. 

Don  Pedrarias  Davila,  on  this  man,  as  a  traitor  and 
an  usurper  of  the  territories  of  the  crown." 

"He  lies!"  Balboa  indignantly  answered. 
"Never  did  such  a  crime  enter  my  mind.  I 
ever  served  my  king  with  truth  and  loyalty,  and 
sought  to  augment  his  dominions." 

Fulvia's  frantic  grief  began  to  move  the  multi 
tude,  and  the  officers  having  the  execution  in  hand 
hurried  Balboa  forward.  As  he  mounted  the 
scaffold,  the  explorer  gazed  about  over  the  scene. 
After  wandering  over  the  vast  array  of  faces,  his 
eyes  finally  fell  on  Fulvia,  and  as  the  executioners 
bound  his  feet  together  and  tied  his  hands  behind 
his  back,  his  deep  rich  voice  suddenly  broke  the 
stillness. 

"Farewell,  Fulvia,  I  die  for  loving  you!"  he  ex 
claimed. 

Then  he  was  forced  forward  on  his  knees,  his 
head  held  down  on  the  block  by  his  long  hair;  the 
executioner  raised  his  terrible  axe,  it  flashed  like  a 
gleam  of  vengeance  in  the  sunlight,  and  fell  with  a 
sickening  thud.  There  was  a  rush  of  dark  blood 
over  the  scaffold,  and  the  head  of  Balboa  was 
severed  from  its  body. 

One  prolonged  shriek  rent  the  air,  and  Fulvia 
fell  in  a  swoon. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE    OPPORTUNITY. 

FROM  this  dark  spot  on  history's  page  we  turn 
once  more  to  Cuba,  where  affairs  go  better.  Velas 
quez,  though  a  fickle  and  jealous  governor,  did  not 
possess  the  cruelty  of  Pedrarias.  His  reconciliation 
with  Cortez  seemed  permanent.  Cortez  married  the 
Senora  Catalina  and  received  a  liberal  share  of  lands 
and  repartiamiento  of  Indians.  He  still  lived  in 
the  neighborhood  of  St.  Jago,  and,  being  once  more 
restored  to  good  citizenship,  renewed  the  acquaint 
ance  of  Estevan. 

"  So  the  gay,  dashing  Cortez  has  settled  down  to 
mining  and  raising  sugar-cane,"  said  Christina,  a 
few  days  after  the  marriage  of  Cortez  to  the  fair 
Catalina. 

"Yes,  and  promises  to  be  a  sober  citizen,"  her 
husband  answered. 

"He  is  cruel,"  put  in  Christopher. 

"Why?" 

"  He  beat  a  slave  to-day.  I  heard  the  poor  In- 
91 


92  ESTEVAK 

dian  cry  out  in  pain.  Father  Las  Casas  says  it  is 
very  wrong." 

Estevan  and  his  wife  were  both  amazed  at  the 
intelligence  of  their  first-born.  *" 

"  He  will  be  a  priest,"  remarked  the  father.  "  He 
has  all  the  qualifications  for  a  member  of  the  Holy 
order." 

Christopher  heard  the  remark,  and  shook  his 
head  gravely. 

"No,  I  will  be  a  soldier  and  fight  battles,"  he 
said. 

"To  fight  battles  you  must  be  cruel." 

"Not  so  cruel  as  to  beat  slaves;  that  is 
cowardly!" 

A  few  days  later,  as  Hernando  Estevan  and  Chris 
topher  were  going  about  the  plantation,  Cortez, 
mounted  on  a  fiery  horse,  came  riding  along  the 
road. 

"Cortez,  you  have  changed  your  course  of  life, 
I  hear,"  cried  Estevan. 

"  So  I  have.  No  more  the  roystering  Cortez,  but 
the  sober,  industrious  miner  and  planter,"  he  an 
swered.  "My  soul  has  panted  for  conquest  since 
first  I  came  to  the  New  World,  but  the  opportunity 
has  not  presented  itself  yet;  hence  I  am  trying  to 
become  rich  by  mining,  and  growing  sugar-cane." 

"That  opportunity  may  come,  Cortez,  for  I  hear 
strange  stories  of  a  far-off  country  which  the  great 


THE   OPPORTUNITY.  93 

admiral  failed  to  reach.  Gold  abounds  there  in 
such  huge  quantities  that  they  use  it  for  drinking 
cups.  Is  it  the  fair  Cathay?" 

"Perhaps;  but  where  the  devil  is  it?  Ojeda  is 
a  beggar,  and  Nicuesa  lost  his  life  seeking  it. 
News  has  just  came  that  our  friend  Balboa  has 
been  beheaded." 

"Executed  by  Pedrarias  the  governor  of 
Darien?" 

"The  same." 

"It  was  a  wicked  outrage,  and  was  done  because 
of  Pedrarias's  jealousy." 

"  Quite  correct,  Estevan.  Though  death  seems 
to  await  all  explorers  from  Spain,  yet  I  long  to 
take  my  place  with  them." 

For  several  years  the  life  of  Cortez  glided 
smoothly  along  in  tranquil  pursuits.  He  grew 
prosperous  and,  some  thought,  happy.  Catalina, 
although  beneath  him  in  birth  and  station,  made  an 
excellent  wife.  Such  was  the  state  of  things  when 
Alvarado  returned  to  Cuba  with  tidings  of  Grijalva's 
wonderful  discoveries  in  Yucatan.  Rumors  of  rich 
fields,  of  castles,  towns,  and  temples  of  gold  in  far 
away  lands  almost  drove  the  people  wild.  The 
news  spread  throughout  the  island,  and  every  one 
saw  at  once  that  these  discoveries  promised  greater 
results  than  any  which  had  hitherto  been  obtained. 

"Estevan,  have  you  heard  the  strange  news?" 


94  ESTEVAN. 

asked  Cortez,  meeting  his  friend  on  the  great  road 
leading  from  St.  Jago. 

"I  have." 

"Will  the  governor  follow  up  these  discov.- 
eries?" 

"  He  will.  He  is  even  now  casting  about  for 
some  suitable  person  to  command  the  expedition." 

"Has  he  found  one?" 

"No.  Several  hidalgos  have  presented  them 
selves,  but  from  want  of  proper  qualifications,  or 
from  fear  of  their  assuming  independence  of  their 
employer,  one  after  another  has  been  rejected." 

"I  am  going  to  ask  for  the  commission  for  my 
self,"  declared  Cortez,  after  a  moment's  thought. 

"Can  you  influence  the  governor?" 

"  I  have  powerful  friends  who  can.  There  are 
two  persons  in  St.  Jago  in  whom  Velasquez  places 
great  confidence.  They  are  Amador  de  Lares  the 
contador,  and  the  governor's  secretary,  Andres  de 
Duero.  I  am  in  close  intimacy  with  both  these 
persons,  and  I  shall  urge  them  to  recommend  me 
as  a  suitable  person." 

"  Cortez,  if  you  command  the  expedition,  I  will 
be  one  of  your  followers." 

"Give  me  your  hand  on  that,  for  I  will  surely 
command  it,"  cried  Cortez. 

As  he  seized  the  hand  of  Cortez,  Estevan  added : 

"I  mean  it,  Cortez,  for  my  children  are  grown 


THE    OPPORTUNITY.  95 

out  of  infancy,  and  my  affairs  are  in  such  shape 
that  I  can  leave  them." 

"And  you  are  enthusiastic  for  the  enterprise?" 

"lam." 

"  Come  with  me;  we  will  go  and  see  the  contador 
and  secretary  at  once." 

They  hastened  down  the  street  to  the  office  of 
Andres  de  Duero.  There  are  times  in  the  affairs  of 
men  when  luck,  fortune,  or  fate,  which  ever  it  may 
be  termed,  seerns  to  sweep  one  on  to  success.  This 
was  the  golden  opportunity  for  Cortez.  He  found 
Duero  in  his  office  and  Amador  de  Lares  with  him. 
As  soon  as  the  two  visitors  were  seated,  Cortez 
broached  the  subject  nearest  his  heart.  Had  they 
heard  the  report  of  Alvarado,  and  the  determina 
tion  of  the  governor  to  send  an  expedition  to  this 
unknown  Eldorado? 

They  had,  and  were  just  discussing  the  matter. 

"  The  governor  seems  at  a  loss  for  some  one  to 
command  the  expedition,"  remarked  the  contador. 

"Why  would  not  Hernando  Cortez  do?"  Estevan 
asked. 

"The  man!"  answered  Duero. 

"I  had  him  in  mind,  but  doubted  if  he  would 
give  up  prosperous  mines  and  plantations,  with 
the  ease  and  luxury  of  Cuba,  for  the  dangers  and 
vicissitudes  of  an  explorer." 

"You  misjudged  me,  Lares,"  Cortez  answered. 


96  ESTEVAN. 

"There  is  untold  wealth  in  those  lands;  help  me  to 
a  commission  to  conquer  them,  and  you  shall  share 
liberally  in  the  rewards." 

Cortez  had  touched  the  key  to  their  hearts.  The 
contador  of  the  royal  treasury  and  the  secretary  of 
state,  Loth  powers  behind  the  throne,  became  his 
warm  adherents.  From  this  hour,  the  deportment 
of  the  future  conqueror  of  Mexico  underwent  a 
change.  His  thoughts,  instead  of  evaporating  in 
empty  levities  or  idle  flashes  of  merriment,  were 
wholly  concentrated  on  the  great  object  to  which  he 
was  devoted.  His  elastic  spirits  were  exercised  in 
cheering  and  stimulating  the  companions  of  his  toil 
some  duties,  and  he  was  roused  to  a  generous  en 
thusiasm,  of  which  even  those  who  knew  him  best 
had  not  believed  him  capable. 

His  friends  were  successful,  and  he  received  the 
appointment  for  which  he  had  longed  since  his 
arrival  in  the  New  World.  His  commission,  dated 
at  Barcelona,  November  13,  1518,  arrived  when 
preparations  for  the  conquest  of  Mexico  were  well 
under  way.  Cortez  applied  all  his  money  in  fit 
ting  out  the  expedition,  mortgaged  his  estates  for 
more,  and  borrowed  all  that  Estevan  and  his  other 
friends  could  spare. 

The  expedition,  fitting  out  in  the  harbor  of  St. 
Jago,  kept  the  busy  little  city  in  a  state  of  bustle 
and  excitement.  The  most  exaggerated  stories  of 


THE   OPPORTUNITY. 


that  far-off  land  called  Mexico  reached  the  city, 
and  nearly  drove  the  people  wild  with  excitement. 
From  dawn  till  dark  Cortez  pursued  his  labors, 
directing  what  should  be 
done,  and  sharing  in  the 
toil  with  his  own  hands. 

Tie  was  born  to  inspire, 
to  lead,  and  to  conquer. 

"Ho!  Senor  Cortez," 
cried  Gerund,  the  gover 
nor's  jester,  a  crack- 
brained  fellow,  half  wit 
and  half  fool,  who  in 
those  days  was  essential 
to  every  great  man's  es 
tablishment,  "you  have 
grown  quite  sedate  of  late. 
No  more  merry-making." 

"I  have  serious  matters 
commanding  my  atten 
tion,"  answered  Cortez. 

"  And  are  you  happy?" 

"  Happy !     What  know 
you  of   happiness?     Cudgel   your  dull   brain  for 
some  poor  joke  to  make  your  master  laugh." 

"I  will!     I  will!"  cried  Gerund,  with  a  comical 

grin.      "  I  will  give  him  a  jest  that  will  crack  his 

sides.     It  makes  me  happy  to  think  of  it. 

7 


"DON'T  YOU  SEE  HOW  HAPPY 
I  AM?" 


Ha, 


98  ESTEVAN. 

ha,  ha,  don't  you  see  how  happy  I  am?"  and, 
holding  his  hands  to  his  sides,  Gerund  roared  with 
laughter. 

As  Cortez  was  turning  away  from  the  fool,  -h£ 
met  Christopher  Estevan,  a  lad  now  eight  years  of 
age.  The  boy's  eyes  followed  the  jester  as  he  said: 

"Even  a  fool,  senor,  can  set  the  governor 
a-thinking. " 

"Watch  him,  Christopher,  and  if  you  learn  that 
he  is  poisoning  the  governor's  mind  against  me,  let 
me  know." 

Christopher  promised  to  do  so.  As  he  was  a 
playmate  of  Antonio  Velasquez,  the  governor's, 
nephew,  who  was  much  of  the  time  at  the  gov 
ernor's  house,  he  had  an  excellent  opportunity  to 
watch  Gerund.  Next  day,  as  Cortez  and  the  gov 
ernor  were  walking  from  the  mansion  toward  the 
port,  they  were  startled  by  a  voice  calling  from  the 
garden.  Turning  about,  both  discovered  Gerund 
the  jester. 

"Have  a  care,  Master  Velasquez,"  he  cried,  "or 
we  shall  have  to  go  a-hunting,  some  day  or  other, 
after  this  same  captain  of  ours.  What  think  you 
of  my  joke,  Seiior  Captain?" 

"Do  you  hear  what  the  rogue  says?"  asked  the 
governor,  as  they  passed  on. 

"Do  not  heed  him,"  answered  Cortez;  "he  is 
a  saucy  knave  and  deserves  to  be  whipped." 


THE   OPPORTUNITY.  99 

Gerund  overheard  the  remark-  and  sent  a  last  shot 
after  him: 

"Fie,  fie!  Seilor  Captain,  you  would  no  doubt* 
like  to  lay  it  on  my  back  as  you  will  on  Master 
Velasquez." 

They  hastened  out  of  hearing  of  the  jester,  but 
his  words  sank  deep  in  the  mind  of  Velasquez. 

On  returning  to  his  house,  the  governor  found  a 
number  of  his  relatives  and  personal  friends  await 
ing  him.  Christopher  Estevanand  Antonio  Velas 
quez,  who  was  three  or  four  years  his  senior,  were 
playing  about  the  house,  and  young  Estevan  saw 
and  heard  all  that  was  said  and  done.  The  gov 
ernor's  brother  was  there  and  seemed  greatly 
vexed. 

"Governor  Velasquez,"  he  said,  "why  do  you 
send  Cortez  on  an  expedition  which  is  sure  to  pro 
duce  both  wealth  and  fame?  Reliable  information 
has  reached  our  ears  that  Mexico  contains  more 
wealth  than  all  the  remainder  of  the  world.  Why 
neglect  your  own  flesh  and  blood,  and  give  all  this 
to  a  stranger?" 

"He  has  his  commission,  and  his  fleet  is  almost 
ready  to  sail,"  returned  Velasquez,  who  began  to 
entertain  some  fears. 

"  Recall  the  commission.  Remember  your  ancient 
quarrel,  for  he  is  one  who  never  forgives  an  affront, 
and  will,  ere  long,  supersede  you." 


100  ESTEVAN. 

"I  have  feared  this.  Bring  Lares  and  Duero 
here,"  said  the  governor.  The  secretary  and  the 
contador  were  summoned,  and  to  them  he  said:  "I 
have  become  distrustful  of  this  fellow  Cortez,  anct"{ . 
want  to  detain  the  expedition  a  few  days  and  then 
put  it  in  other  hands." 

Lares  and  Duero  tried  to  dissuade  the  governor, 
but  he  was  set  in  his  way.  Without  seeming  to 
take  any  note  of  the  matter,  Christopher  Estevan 
had  heard  all.  Excusing  himself  from  his  play 
mate,  he  hastened  to  his  father's  house,  where  Cor 
tez  chanced  to  be. 

In  as  few  words  as  possible,  Christopher  related; 
what  he  had  heard  pertaining  to  Cortez,  who,  at 
the  conclusion  of  the  boy's  narrative  said: 

"There  is  not  a  moment  to  lose,  Estevan." 

"No." 

"We  must  sail  to-night." 

"But  your  fleet  is  not  ready?" 

"Nevertheless  we  must  sail;  delay  is  ruin." 

"Lares  and  Duero  are  your  friends;  why  not 
consult  them  and  learn  if  the  boy's  statement  is 
true,"  suggested  the  father.  "Christopher  may 
have  been  misinformed." 

"I  was  not,  father." 

"You  may  have  misinterpreted  their  meaning, 
Christopher.  Better  see  them,  Cortez." 

On  going  to  the    office  of  the  contador  Cortez 


THE   OPPORTUNITY.  Ml 

found  both  Lares  and  Duero,  who  confirmed  the 
lad's  story. 

"And  now,  Cortez,"  concluded  Duero,  "I 
would  advise  }^ou  to  expedite  matters  as  much  as 
possible,  and  if  you  would  retain  command  of  your 
fleet,  get  ready  for  sea  at  once." 

"I  will,"  he  answered.  "Although  I  have  not 
my  complement  of  men  and  my  vessels  are  inade 
quately  provided  with  supplies,  I  will  sail  this  very 
night." 

His  officers  were  secretly  informed  of  his  design, 
and  at  midnight,  when  the  town  was  hushed  in 
sleep,  there  came  on  the  air  the  muffled  tread  of 
troops,  cautiously  marching  to  the  vessel.  Sup 
plies  were  silently  hurried  on  board,  and  just  be 
fore  dawn  of  day  the  little  fleet  moved  down  the 
bay,  where  they  cast  anchor  to  wait  for  daylight  to 
sail. 

At  early  dawn  Velasquez  was  awakened  by  his 
jester  pounding  at  his  door. 

"Ho,  master!"  he  cried,  "awake,  and  see  your 
good  Cortez  already  under  way  without  so  much  as 
bidding  you  adieu." 

"  What  mean  }TOU,  knave?" 

"Behold  the  fleet  ready  to  sail." 

With  a  yell  of  rage,  the  governor  leaped  from 
his  bed  and  ran  to  a  window,  from  which  he  saw  the 
fleet  beyond  the  harbor. 


102  ESTEVAN. 

"Bring  a  guard!  Bring  me  a  horse!"  lie  cried, 
hurriedly  dressing. 

Buckling  on  his  sword,  he  donned  his  sombrero, 
and  rushed  out  on  the    lawn  where  a  retinue  -o^ 
cavaliers  awaited  him.   He  leaped  on  his  horse,  and, 
followed  by  his  guard,  galloped  down  to  the  beach, 
waving  his  hand  at  the  fleet  and  crying: 

"Ho,  you  knaves!      Come  back,  you  villains!" 

Cortez,  discovering  the  approach  of  the  governor 
and  retinue,  entered  an  armed  "boat  and  came  within 
speaking  distance  of  the  shore. 

"And  is  it  thus  you  part  from  me?"  exclaimed 
Velasquez;  "a  courteous  way  of  taking  leave, 
truly!" 

"Pardon  me,"  Cortez  answered  courteously; 
"  time  presses,  and  there  are  some  things  that  should 
be  done  before  they  are  even  thought  of.  Has 
your  excellency  any  commands?" 

So  exasperated  was  the  governor  at  the  cool  im 
pudence  of  the  fellow  that  he  turned  to  one  of  his 
attendants  and  cried: 

"Garcia,  you  have  a  matchlock;  dismount  and 
put  a  bullet  through  the  knave." 

Garcia,  dismounting,  lighted  the  match  in  his 
gun,  and,  setting  the  rest,  opened  the  pan. 
Cortez  stood  boldly  in  the  stern  of  the  boat,  an  ex 
cellent  mark  for  a  good  shot,  but  when  the  guards 
man  pressed  the  trigger  sending  the  match  into  the 


THE   OPPORTUNITY.  103 

pan  there  was  no  explosion;  the  powder  had  been 
jolted  out  in  the  ride  to  the  beach. 

"Gonzalez,  have  you  your  crossbow,"  cried  the 
governor. 

"No,  your  excellency." 

The  governor's  rage  knew  no  bounds,  as  Cortez 
politely  waved  his  hand  and  returned  to  his  vessel. 
Turning  to  Christopher  Estevan,  who  stood  on  the 
beach  watching  the  fleet  which  now  weighed  anchor, 
the  governor  asked: 

"Is  your  father  aboard  that  fleet?" 

"He  is,"  the  lad  answered. 

"  Then,  by  St.  Anthony,  you  will  be  an  orphan, 
for  I  will  hang  every  officer  on  the  rebel  fleet!" 

With  this  threat  Velasquez  rode  back  to  the 
house  to  digest  his  chagrin  as  best  he  might,  satis 
fied  that  he  had  blundered  both  in  appointing  Cor 
tez  to  the  command,  and  in  attempting  to  deprive 
him  of  it,  after  appointed. 

Cortez  sailed  to  Macaca,  where  he  laid  in  such 
stores  as  he  could  obtain  from  the  royal  farms, 
which  he  declared  to  be  "a  loan  from  the  king." 
Thence  he  proceeded  to  Trinidad,  which  had  grown 
to  be  a  considerable  town  on  the  south  end  of  Cuba. 
He  remained  here  some  time,  recruiting  and  taking 
in  stores.  About  one  hundred  of  Grijalva's  men, 
just  returned  from  a  long  and  tedious  voyage  along 
the  southern  coast  of  Mexico,  were  persuaded  to 


104  ESTEVAN. 

join  him.  He  also  dispatched  one  of  his  officers, 
Diego  Ordaz,  in  quest  of  another  ship,  of  which 
he  had  heard,  and  ordered  him  to  meet  him  off  Cape 
Antonio.  From  here  lie  sailed  to  Havana,  where 
he  spent  his  time  boldly  taking  in  supplies  and  re 
cruiting  his  men. 

According  to  historians,  Cortez  was,  at  this 
time,  thirty-four  years  of  age.  In  stature  he  was 
rather  above  middle  size.  His  complexion  was 
pale,  and  his  large,  dark  eyes  gave  an  expression  of 
gravity  to  his  countenance,  not  to  be  expected  in 
one  of  his  cheerful  temperament.  Though  his 
figure  was  slender  until  later  in  life,  his  chest  was 
deep,  his  shoulders  broad,  his  frame  muscular,  and 
well  proportioned.  His  body  was  a  union  of 
strength,  agility,  and  vigor,  which  qualified  him  to 
excel  in  fencing,  horsemanship,  and  other  generous 
exercises  of  chivalry.  He  was  temperate  in  diet, 
and  drank  little,  while  to  toil  and  privation  he  was 
perfectly  indifferent.  His  dress  was  elegant,  and 
wrell  adapted  to  set  off  his  handsome  person  to  ad 
vantage.  Though  becoming,  rich  and  striking,  it 
was  not  gaudy,  while  his  few  jewels  were  of  great 
price.  His  manners  were  pleasing,  frank,  and 
soldier-like,  concealing  a  cool  and  calculating  spirit 
beneath  them.  With  his  gayest  humor  there 
mingled  a  settled  air  of  resolution,  which  made 
those  who  approached  him  feel  that  they  must  obey, 


THE   OPPORTUNITY.  105 

and  infused  awe  into  the  attachment  of  his  most  de 
voted  followers. 

In  the  month  of  February,  1519,  the  little  squad 
ron  touched  at  Cape  St.  Antonio,  where  Cortez, 
mustering  his  forces,  found  they  numbered  one 
hundred  and  ten  mariners,  five  hundred  and  fifty- 
three  soldiers,  including  thirty-two  crossbow-men 
and  thirteen  arquebusiers,  besides  two  hundred  In 
dians  of  the  island,  and  a  few  Indian  women  for 
menial  offices.  He  was  provided  with  ten  heavy 
guns,  and  sixteen  horses;  for  Cortez  rightly  esti 
mated  the  importance  of  cavalry,  however  small  in 
number,  both  for  their  actual  service  in  the  field, 
and  for  striking  terror  into  the  hearts  of  the 
savages. 

After  making  a  short  speech,  in  which  he  showed 
them  the  glories  of  the  coming  conquest,  they  sailed 
for  the  island  of  Cozumel.  Here  they  found  houses 
built  of  stone  and  lime,  with  magnificent  temples 
towering  several  stories  in  the  air.  But  the  temples 
had  been  rifled  of  their  treasures  by  Alvarado. 
While  at  Cozumel,  a  man  dressed  like  a  native 
came  to  Cortez  one  day,  and  saluted  him  in  Indian 
fashion  by  touching  his  head  to  the  earth. 

"Call  an  interpreter,"  said  Cortez. 

"No  need,  captain,  for  I  am  a  Spaniard  like 
yourself,"  said  the  stranger.  "I  am  Greronimo  de 
Aguilar,  a  native  of  Ecija  in  old  Spain,  where  I 


106  ESTEVAN. 

was  regularly  educated  for  the  church.  I  was  es 
tablished  with  the  colony  at  Darien,  and  on  a 
voyage  to  Hispaniola  eight  years  ago  was  wrecked 
near  the  cost  of  Yucatan."  Then  he  told  a  story, 
so  wild  and  weird  as  to  make  even  the  steel-clad 
Cortez  shudder. 

"Are  you  the  only  survivor?"  he  asked  at  the 
conclusion. 

"No,  I  have  one  companion  left  from  this 
disaster,"  answered  Aguilar;  "but  he  has  married 
an  Indian  wife  and  adopted  their  manners  and  cus 
toms.  He  would  not  come  with  me,  for  he  preferred 
his  wild  life  in  the  wilderness  with  his  dusky  wife 
and  children  to  his  own  people." 


CHAPTER   VII. 

A   YOUNG   HUMANITARIAN. 

A  FEW  days  after  the  departure  of  the  fleet  of 
Cortez,  the  governor  of  Cuba,  with  his  lieutenant, 
Narvaez,  drew  rein  in  front  of  Estevan's  house  and 
called  to  his  wife,  who  was  on  the  veranda.  Chris 
topher,  who  heard  the  governor,  came  from  the 
arbor  to  learn  what  he  wanted. 

"Senora  Estevan,  is  your  husband  with  the  fleet 
of  Cortez?"  asked  the  governor. 

"He  is,"  she  answered. 

"Then  more  is  the  pity  for  you." 

"Why?"  asked  Christina,  her  heart  giving  great 
bounds,  for  she  discovered  that  the  governor  was  in 
a  rage,  and  she  had  a  dread  of  him. 

"  Because  you  will  soon  be  a  widow.  I  will 
hang  every  man  aboard  the  fleet." 

"  They  have  done  nothing  worthy  of  death,  gov 
ernor." 

"Desertion  and  treason  are  punishable  with 
death?" 

107 


108  ESTEVAN. 

"  They  are  surely  guilty  of  neither  charge.  They 
sailed  with  your  consent  and  the  king's  commis 
sion." 

"My  consent,  indeed!     Did  I  not  recall  them?-*. 
But  Cortez    defied    me;  yes,   defied  me.      I    will 
hang  every  one  of  them." 

"But,  remember,  the  good  Father  Olmedo  is  with 
them!"  put  in  the  lad,  who  had  early  been  taught 
that  the  priest  was  sacred. 

"I  will  hang  him,  also.  Senora,  I  warn  you, 
if  you  do  not  keep  that  impudent  son  of  yours 
quiet  I  will  pull  your  house  down  about  your  ears," 
cried  the  governor.  Dismounting  from  his  horse,  • 

o  o  * 

he  went  to  the  gate,  where  he  stood  shaking  his 
fist  at  the  seiiora,  whose  husband  he  hated.  Chris 
topher's  blue  eyes  flashed  with  deadly  fire,  and, 
turning,  he  entered  the  house.  There  was  an 
arbor  at  the  side  of  the  house  with  a  door  opening 
to  it  from  within. 

The  seiiora,  who  was  trembling  for  her  own 
safety,  was  doing  all  she  could  to  pacify  the  angry 
governor,  when  she  was  suddenly  startled  by  the 
odor  of  burning  wood.  Leaving  the. governor  to 
fume  and  rage  alone,  she  hurried  into  the  arbor 
from  whence  the  odor  came. 

"  Christopher,  what  are  you  doing!"  shrieked  the 
astounded  mother.  Her  son  was  balancing  an  old  ar 
quebus  on  a  cross-beam  and  aiming  it  through  the 


A    YOUNG   HUMANITARIAN.  109 

trellised  vines  at  the  governor,  while  he  held  in 
his  right  hand  a  firebrand  to  touch  it  off. 

"Keep  quiet,  mother,  I  will  kill  him." 

Christina  snatched  the  firebrand  from  his  hand, 
and  taking  away  the  weapon  put  it  in  the  house 
just  as  the  governor,  suspecting  some  mischief, 
entered  the  arbor. 

"What  are  you  about?"  he  demanded. 

"Trying  to  shoot  a  tyrant,  who  would  hang  my 
father,"  boldly  answered  the  lad,  his  eyes  flashing 
fire. 

Velasquez  was  not  without  his  good  qualities, 
and  there  was  something  so  noble  about  the  lad, 
that  he  could  not  but  admire  him.  He  turned  to 
his  lieutenant. 

"  What  think  you  of  such  a  youth,  Narvaez?"  he 
asked. 

"  lie  will  make  a  dangerous  rebel,"  was  the  reply. 

"To  tyrants  I  will  be  dangerous,"  cried  the  lad. 
"  To  men  who  beat  Indian  slaves  until  they  fall 
dead,  I  am  dangerous.  Beware,  Narvaez,  for 
when  I  grow  to  be  a  man,  your  cruelty  will  end." 

"By  the  mass,  governor!"  cried  the  impulsive 
lieutenant,  "I  do  admire  the  lad's  pluck." 

"So  do  I,  yet  I  would  advise  his  mother  to 
keep  fire-arms  out  of  his  hands,  until  years  may 
add  discretion  to  his  valor,  or  he  may  end  his  days 
on  the  scaffold." 


110  ESTEVAN. 

"Many  good  men  have,"  defiantly  answered 
Christopher.  "Balboa  lost  his  life  for  refusing  to 
wed  the  governor's  daughter." 

"  Come,  come,  lad,  make  yourself  a  useful  many- 
and  for  your  sake    I   may  spare  your  father;  but 
Cortez  shall  hang." 

"How  will  you  get  him?" 

"I  will  send  for  him." 

"Send  your  lieutenant,  Narvaez,  and  he  will  re 
turn  the  worse  for  his  mission." 

"Hear  you  the  young  rogue,  Narvaez?" 

"  I  do,  and  trust  I  may  some  day  prove  he  is  no 
prophet. " 

"Come  to  my  mansion,  lad,  and  play  with  An 
tonio  when  you  wish,"  said  Velasquez,  remounting 
his  horse.  "You  are  a  brave  lad,  and  will  make 
a  useful  man,  despite  the  fact  that  your  father  is  a 
rebel."  Velasquez  and  his  lieutenant  took  their 
leave,  and  Christopher  was  alone  with  his  mother. 

She  took  occasion  to  reprove  him,  assuring  him 
that  he  would  increase  his  father's  danger  by  open 
hostility  to  the  governor. 

"He  won't  dare  harm  my  father,"  Christopher 
answered.  "  Father  and  Cortez  are  brave,  and  the 
governor  fears  them." 

A  child  sometimes  reads  the  heart  more  accu 
rately  than  an  adult.  He  is  guided  more  by  im 
pressions  and  never-erring  intuitions  than  false 


A    YOUNG    HUMANITARIAN.  Ill 

logic.  He  went  straight  at  the  truth  and  guessed 
the  cause  of  the  governor's  antipathy.  But  child 
hood  is  forgetful  and  forgiving.  In  a  few  days 
Antonio  and  Christopher  were  again  roaming  the 
fields  and  forests  about  St.  Jago  with  their  small 
bows  and  arrows. 

"The  governor  doesn't  like  your  father,"  said 
Antonio. 

"I  know  it.  Look  at  that  bird  with  a  great  red 
tail." 

"  Yes  I  see  it.   I  believe  I  can  hit  it." 

"Try.      There,  you  missed  and  it  flew  away." 

"Come,  help  me  find  my  arrow!"  As  they 
wandered  deeper  into  the  wood,  Antonio  continued. 
"He  don't  like  your  father,  because  he  was  a 
friend  of  Christopher  Columbus.  You  were  named 
for  Columbus?" 

"I  was." 

"  So  much  more  the  pity.  I  don't  like  you, 
either." 

"  Then  why  did  you  come  for  me  to  go  bird- 
nesting  with  you?" 

"Because  one  doesn't  want  to  go  alone." 

"There  are  other  lads." 

"But  they  don't  like  me.  Here  is  my  arrow 
sticking  in  a  tree." 

"  See  those  great  vultures  soaring  over  the  wood, 
Antonio?" 


112  ESTEVAN. 

"I  do." 

"Why  do  they  circle  about  one  place?" 

"There  is  something  which  attracts  them." 

"Let  us  go  and  see  what  it  is." 

"With  the  curiosity  of  childhood,  the  boys  hur 
ried  through  the  wood,  which  in  places  was  a  dense 
jungle.  On  the  air  made  fragrant  by  tropical 
flowers,  there  was  borne  an  offensive  odor  which 
increased  as  they  approached  the  spot  beneath  the 
vultures.  Suddenly  Christopher  seized  the  arm  of 
his  companion. 

"Something  is  dead,  Antonio,"  he  said. 

Filled  with  that  unutterable  awe  produced  by/ 
near  approach  to  death,  they  cautiously  advanced 
until  they  came  upon  a  terrible  sight.  A  dead 
Indian  slave  lay  unburied  in  the  woods  to  be  de 
voured  by  the  vultures.  The  slave  had  belonged 
to  Narvaez,  and,  owing  to  his  master's  cruelty, 
had  fled  to  the  wood  to  be  chased,  torn,  and  slain 
by  the  dogs.  The  boys  gazed  for  a  moment  in 
silence  on  the  awful  spectacle,  then  turned  away. 

"Is  that  the  Narvaez  plantation?"  asked  Chris 
topher,  pointing  to  some  fields  on  a  hill. 

"Yes." 

"See,  he  is  already  among  his  slaves." 

"He  beats  them." 

"How  they  scream  I  Antonio,  he  is  very 
cruel." 


'   • 


"  Jinl.l)  !    LIKTTKNANT;    M'(U'I.I)    Yor    K[[.I,   YOl-i;    SLAVE?" 


A    YOUNG    HUMANITARIAN.  113 

The  boys  now  came  to  the  Narvaez  plantation, 
and  saw  him  laying  his  whip  about  the  naked 
shoulders  of  a  young  Indian  woman. 

"Hold,  lieutenant!  in  God's  name,  would  you 
kill  your  slave?"  cried  Christopher,  rushing  at 
the  Spaniard. 

Astounded  at  the  fierce  manner  of  the  little 
fellow,  Narvaez  ceased  to  belabor  the  slave  and 
stood  for  a  moment  gazing  in  astonishment  at  the 
lad. 

"Are  you  not  Christopher  Estevan?" 

"lam." 

"You  are  too  bold  to  interfere  with  my  affairs. 
Are  you  not  afraid  I  will  lay  my  whip  on  your 
shoulders?" 

"No!  I  would  kill  you  if  you  did,"  cried  the 
defiant  little  fellow,  glaring  at  the  slave-beater. 
"I  saw  one  of  your  slaves  dead  in  the  wood.  You 
can  see  the  vultures  soaring  above  the  spot  where 
he  lies.  If  you  continue  to  kill  them  you  will 
soon  have  none,  and  then  you  must  do  the  work 
yourself." 

"There  are  plenty  more  in  the  forest,"  answered 
Narvaez,  releasing  the  shrinking  girl,  who  crept 
away  to  her  labor  in  the  sugar-cane.  Narvaez, 
guilty  tyrant  as  he  was,  was  awed  by  his  daring 
little  accuser,  and  unconsciously  recoiled  from  him. 

"You  say  there  are  plenty  in  the  forest,"  re- 
8 


114  ESTEVAN. 

sumed  the  boy,  "but  they  are  dying  by  hundreds. 
The  woods  are  whitened  with  their  bones.  The 
Spaniard's  cruelty  reduces  them  so  rapidly,  that, 
ere  many  years,  this  great  race  of  people  will  all  be* 
gone.  God  will  surely  avenge  their  wrongs. 
Narvaez,  beware  of  God's  vengeance,"  and  the  lad 
turned  about  and  left  the  hidalgo  overcome  with 
amazement. 

Antonio,  alarmed  at  the  boldness  of  his  young 
friend,  when  he  saw  him  charge  defiantly  on  Nar 
vaez,  turned  about  and  fled  to  St.  Jago,  about 
three  miles  distant. 

Christopher  was  not  alarmed  at  having  to  traverse  « 
the  distance  alone.  His  road  led  through  a 
dense  forest.  It  was  a  lonely  road,  and,  as  he 
trotted  along  the  well-beaten  path,  he  was  sud 
denly  surprised  at  hearing  a  voice  call  to  him  from 
the  thicket.  Halting,  he  gazed  in  the  direction 
of  the  voice.  There  was  a  rustling  and  trembling 
of  the  branches,  and  then  the  oddest  specimen  of 
humanity  he  had  ever  seen  stepped  out  in  the  path 
before  him.  It  was  an  Indian  woman,  evidently 
of  a  great  age,  dressed  in  fantastic  garb,  half 
civilized  and  half  barbaric.  She  wore  a  curious 
head-gear  of  feathers,  and  her  feet  and  legs,  to  the 
knees,  were  naked. 

"You  are  a  good  lad!"  said  the  old  hag,  in  ex 
cellent  Spanish. 


A    YOUNG    HUMANITARIAN.  115 

"Who  are  you?"  he  asked. 
"Zuna." 

"Where  from?" 

She  pointed  off  to  the  south,  and,  with  a  sadness 
in  her  tone,  added : 

"It  has  been  a  long  time  since  I  left  my  people. 
I  was  young  then,  now  I  am  old." 

"Why  did  you  come  to  this  island?"  he  asked. 

"I  was  brought  here." 

"As  a  slave?" 

"Yes." 

"By  the  white  men?" 

"No;  by  the  cruel  Caribs,  who  captured  me 
years  before  the  white  men  ever  came  to  this  land. 
I  escaped  from  them  and  was  captured  by  a  ca 
cique,  but  I  cannot  tell  you  my  story  now.  If 
you  would  like  to  hear  it,  I  will  tell  it  to  you  some 
other  time." 

"I  would." 

"Do  you  know  where  the  cavern  below  the 
town  is?" 

He  had  been  to  the  cavern,  and  told  her  he  knew 
where  it  was. 

"  I  live  there  now,  for  I  am  hunted  by  a  cruel 
master." 

"Who  is  your  master?"  he  asked. 

"Narvaez,"  she  answered.  "He  set  his  dogs 
on  me,  but  I  poisoned  them  and  escaped.  Since 


116  ESTEVAN. 

then  I  have  lived  in  the  cavern.      I  am  starving;  I 
must  have  food,  for  I  have  devoured  all  the  lizards 
and  toads  which  creep  about  the  cave.      Bring  me 
food  and  I  will  tell  you  a  wonderful  story  of  a  land*, 
and  people  unknown  to  the  Spaniards." 

His  boyish  curiosity  was  roused,  and  he  hastened 
home  for  food  for  the  starving  slave.  His  mother 
was  absent;  so,  gathering  up  some  loaves  in  a  bas 
ket,  he  hastened  to  the  cavern.  The  sun  was  low 
in  the  west,  but  the  prospect  of  hearing  a  wonder 
ful  story  drove  away  all  fears  of  darkness.  Reach 
ing  the  cavern,  he  paused  a  moment  at  the  entrance 
and  heard  voices  whispering. 

"  He  has  come,  he  brings  food, "  said  one. 

"Zuna!"  he  called. 

"I  am  here." 

"Alone?" 

"No,  an  unfortunate  slave,  escaping  from  his 
master,  is  here."  (A  few  weeks  later,  and  Zuna's 
cavern  became  a  famous  resort  for  escaping  slaves.) 

"Here  is  food  for  you,"  said  the  lad,  placing  the 
basket  in  her  hands. 

Zuna  eagerly  seized  it,  and  she  and  a  middle-aged 
Indian,  lame  from  the  fangs  of  a  bloodhound,  be 
gan  to  devour  the  food. 

"We  have  had  no  food  for  days,"  said  Zuna, 
who,  despite  her  withered,  hag-like  appearance, 
possessed  a  lofty  bearing. 


A    YOUNG    HUMANITARIAN.  117 

Far  into  the  interior  of  the  cavern,  illuminated 
by  a  single  torch,  she  conducted  the  lad.  As  soon 
as  he  could  recover  from  wonder,  he  turned  again 
to  the  woman. 

"  Zuna,  you  promised  to  tell  me  of  your  land  and 
people,"  he  said. 

"I  did,"  answered  the  old  woman,  finishing  the 
food,  "and  I  will.  I  am  a  child  of  the  sun." 

Gazing  at  her  in  wonder  he  said,  "Of  the  sun?" 

"Yes;  the  land  of  my  birth  is  the  land  of  the 
children  of  the  sun.  It  is  a  strange,  far-off  land, 
across  seas  and  mountains.  There  the  skies  are 
always  bright  and  the  people  live  in  great  houses 
of  stone,  roofed  with  gold. 

"Many  years  ago  our  people  were  living  in 
peace  and  splendor,  when  there  suddenly  appeared 
among  us  great  birds  which  carried  off  many  peo 
ple.*  Then  there  came  two  birds  with  faces  like 
humans,  and  so  large  that,  when  they  spread  their 
wings,  they  darkened  the  sun  as  if  a  great  cloud 
had  come  over  it.  They  feasted  on  people,  and 
devoured  many.  The  largest  bird,  a  female  with 
the  head  and  breasts  of  a  woman,  was  the  mother 
of  the  younger.  Often  they  swooped  down  on 
great  cities,  snatched  people  up  in  the  streets,  and 


*  Zuna's  story  relates  Indian  legends  current  at  the  time 
«f  the  Spanish  conquests. 


118  ESTEVAN. 

carried  them  away  screaming,  to  be  torn  to  pieces 
by  their  talons.  At  last  all  our  warriors  got  bows 
and  arrows  and  shot  the  old  bird  to  death,  when 
her  son  went  shrieking  away  and  was  never  seen 
again. 

"When  they  were  gone  there  came  among  us  two 
strange  people  directly  from  the  sun,  Manco  Copac, 
and  his  wife  Mama.  They  were  great  and  good 
people  and  gave  us  wholesome  laws,  which  my 
people  observe  to  this  day." 

"Where  is  this  land?"  the  lad  asked. 

"Far  away  from  here,  beyond  wood,  seas,  and 
mountains  so  tall  that  their  tops  seem  to  reach  the  / 
sky.      The  people  have   ships  almost  as  large  as  * 
yours;  they  have  swinging  bridges,  excellent  roads, 
and  carry  burdens  on  animals." 

"Horses?" 

"No,  not  so  large." 

"Camels?" 

"No." 

"What?" 

"Llamas!" 

"What  are  llamas?" 

"  Animals  with  wool  or  hair  on  their  backs,  from 
which  cloth  is  made."  Then  she  continued  to  tell 
him  of  golden  temples  and  cities  of  wondrous 
wealth,  until  Christopher  thought  it  must  be  a  land 
of  enchantment. 


A    YOUNG    HUMANITARIAN.  119 

"How  did  you  come  here?"  the  young  humani 
tarian  asked. 

"Copac  was  at  war  with  a  tribe,  and  I  was  a 
child  living  on  the  frontier, "  she  answered.  "  I  was 
captured  by  our  enemy  and  taken  to  the  coast.  I 
lived  three  years  here,  when  a  party  of  Caribs  came 
over  the  sea  in  their  boats  and  again  I  was  captured 
and  carried  to  their  country.  I  escaped  and  wan 
dered  a  long  distance  in  the  woods,  when  I  was 
one  day  seized  by  white  men  and  taken  to  Cuba, 
where  I  was  sold  to  Narvaez,  from  whose  cruelty  I 
have  but  recently  escaped." 

The  lad  promised  to  bring  her  food  regularly 
and  keep  her  hiding-place  a  secret. 

"When  I  am  grown  to  be  a  man  I  will  go  to  this 
wonderful  country,"  he  declared,  on  leaving  the 
cavern. 

It  chanced  a  few  days  later,  as  he  was  playing 
with  Antonio  about  the  governor's  mansion,  that 
he  related  to  him  the  strange  story  of  Zuna.  With 
childish  enthusiasm  he  dwelt  on  the  richness  and 
mystery  of  a  land  in  which  cities  were  roofed  in 
with  gold.  The  governor,  who  chanced  to  be  near, 
was  an  eager  listener  and  when  the  story  was  ended 
he  seized  the  lad's  arm. 

"Who  told  you  this?"  he  demanded. 

"An  Indian  woman." 

"Where  is  she?" 


120  ESTEVAN. 

"I  will  not  tell." 

"You  shall,"  cried  the  excited  governor.     "I 
will  have  this  story  from  her  own  lips." 

With  flashing  eye,  his  whole  manner  expressing 
defiance,  the  brave  lad  replied: 

"I  will  not  tell,  and  you  cannot  make  me." 

The  governor  pushed  him   aside,    and    walked 
across  the  apartment  impatiently. 

"It  is  the  same  story  that  comes  from  Darien," 
he  muttered  half  aloud,  "and,  by  St.  Anthony! 
the  boy  shall  tell,  or  I  will  put  him  to  the  rack. 
Where  in  the  devil's  name  has  he  gone?"  de 
manded  the  governor  suddenly,  on  discovering 
that  young  Estevan  had  disappeared.  Even  then  - 
Christopher  was  hastening  to  his  mother. 


CHAPTER   VIIL 

MAKINA. 


THE  Tobascans,  a  tribe  of  Indians  at  whose 
territory  Cortez  touched,  showed  a  strong  disposi 
tion  to  resist  him.  He  gave  battle  and  defeated 
the  savages.  They  sued  for  peace,  and  among  their 
propitiatory  gifts  were  twenty  female  slaves,  one 
of  whom  proved  to  be  of  infinite  more  consequence 
than  was  anticipated  by  either  the  Spaniards  or  To 
bascans.  Estevan  and  Cortez  were  standing  side  by 
side  when  the  twenty  female  slaves  were  brought 
to  the  Spaniards.  Never  saw  the  Spaniards  a 
queen  more  graceful  or  beautiful  than  one  of  those 
slaves. 

"Mark  you,  Estevan,  how  she  bears  herself," 
said  Cortez.  "Such  diamond  eyes,  ruby  lips,  and 
olive  cheeks." 

She  was  not  attired  in  simple,  barbaric  costume, 
but  wore  a  robe  of  rich  cloth  and  beaded  sandals 
on  her  feet,  and  her  manner  was  modest  and  re 
fined.  Strangely  moved,  from  the  moment  he  set 
eyes  on  her,  he  felt  he  had  met  his  destiny,  and 
121 


122  ESTEVAN. 

declared  that  she  was  the  most  beautiful  being  he 
had  ever  seen. 

The  mind  of  the  Spanish  commander,  however, 
was  not  long  in  reverting  to  the  chief  object  of -.the 
conquest.  Among  other  presents,  the  cacique  had*" 
brought  him  many  gold  ornaments.  Through  his 
two  interpreters  he  asked  from  whence  the  precious 
metal  came.  The  cacique  pointed  to  the  west. 

"Mexico,"  he  said. 

Before  taking  his  leave  of  the  natives,  Cortez 
caused  the  priests,  Fathers  Olmedo  and  Diaz,  to 
enlighten  their  minds  as  far  as  possible  in  regard  to 
the  great  truths  of  revelation,  urging  them  to  em 
brace  the  true  faith  in  place  of  their  own  heathen  - 
abominations.  The  perceptions  of  the  Tobascans 
had  been  materially  quickened  by  the  discipline 
they  had  undergone,  and  they  made  but  faint  re 
sistance  to  this  proposal.  The  next  day  was  Palm 
Sunday,  and  their  conversion  was  celebrated  by 
one  of  those  pompous  ceremonies  of  the  Church, 
which  made  a  lasting  impression  on  the  minds  of 
the  Indians. 

A  procession  of  military  and  ecclesiastics  was 
formed,  each  soldier  carrying  a  palm-branch  in  his 
hand.  The  great  concourse  was  swelled  by  thou 
sands  of  Indians  of  both  sexes,  following  in  curious 
astonishment.  The  long  lines  moved  through 
flowery  savannas  that  bordered  the  settlement,  to  the 


DOfiA    MARINA.  123 

principal  temple,  where  an  altar  was  raised,  and 
the  image  of  the  presiding  deity  deposed  to  make 
room  for  the  Virgin  and  the  infant  Saviour.  Mass 
was  celebrated  by  Father  Olmedo,  all  the  soldiers 
capable  joining  in  the  solemn  chant.  In  silent 
wonder  the  natives  listened,  their  hearts  penetrated 
with  reverential  awe  for  the  God  of  those  terrible 
beings. 

The  religious  ceremonies  over,  Cortez  bade  the 
converts  adieu,  well  satisfied  with  the  impression 
he  had  made.  Going  aboard  their  vessels  the  little 
fleet  spread  sails  to  receive  the  breeze  and  skimmed 
over  the  waves  to  the  golden  shores  of  Mexico. 
They  held  their  course  so  near  to  land  that  the 
sailors  could  see  the  inhabitants  along  the  shores  of 
the  gulf. 

"We  are  approaching  a  grand  country,"  said 
Cortez  to  Estevan. 

"  It  is  a  noble  land,  general.  Each  hour  unfolds 
new  wonders." 

When  the  fleet  arrived  off  San  Juan  de  Ulua, 
an  island  so  named  by  Grijalva,  and  glided  along 
under  easy  sail  on  the  bosom  of  the  waters, 
crowds  of  natives  gathered  on  the  shore  of  the  main 
land  and  gazed  at  the  strange  phenomenon.  Cor 
tez  gave  orders  to  anchor  under  the  lee  of  the  island. 

Scarce  had  the  ships  came  to  anchor,  when  Este 
van  from  the  forecastle  called  to  Cortez: 


124  ESTEVAN. 

"General,  there  comes  a  pirogue  filled  with 
natives  from  the  main  land." 

"I  see  it,  and  they  are  heading  directly  for  our 
vessel."  v~-- 

The  Indians  came  on  board  with  frank  confi 
dence,  inspired  by  the  accounts  of  the  Spaniards 
spread  by  their  countrymen  who  had  traded  with 
Grijalva.  They  brought  presents  of  fruits  and 
flowers,  and  little  ornaments  of  gold,  which  they 
gladly  exchanged  for  the  usual  trinkets.  Cortez 
called  Aguilar  to  interpret  what  they  said,  but  he 
was  unable  to  understand  them. 

"Can't  you  interpret  their  language?"  Cortez 
asked. 

"No,  they  speak  Aztec,  which  I  do  not  under 
stand;  but  one  of  the  twenty  slaves  whom  you 
took  from  the  Tobascans  is  an  Aztec,"  answered 
Aguilar. 

"Do  you  mean  the  beautiful  maiden?" 

"Yes." 

"Send  her  to  me." 

When  she  came  on  deck,  Cortez  again  surveyed 
her  with  a  critic's  eye.  Her  lofty  bearing,  gor 
geous  eyes,  shapely  bust,  rising  and  falling  beneath 
deep  respirations,  her  olive-tinted  cheek,  clear 
enough  to  show  the  rich  blood  beneath  the  skin, 
and  her  ruby  lips,  were  productive  of  a  spell  from 
which  Cortez  never  recovered. 


DONA    MARINA.  125 

"By  St.  Anthony!  such  beauty  never  existed 
in  my  own  race,"  he  declared.  He  christened  her 
Dona  Marina.  When  Aguilar  interpreted  the  re 
mark  of  the  general  to  the  maiden,  a  glad  glow 
came  over  her  face.  When  she  had  interpreted 
what  the  Aztecs  had  to  say,  Cortez  spoke  to  her. 

"  Henceforth  you  are  to  be  my  own,  and  I  will 
teach  you  to  speak  Spanish,"  he  said. 

From  that  moment  she  was  so  attached  to  him 
that  she  was  constantly  at  his  side  in  time  of  dan 
ger  or  tranquillity.  She  rapidly  learned  the  Span 
ish  language,  receiving  her  instructions  at  the  feet 
of  her  liege. 

Did  he  forget  his  marriage  vows?  Did  he  forget 
the  wife,  in  his  far-off  Cuban  home,  who  patiently 
waited  arid  watched  for  him  day  by  day?  Yes. 

Perhaps  the  truth  too  well  told  has  robbed  the 
hero  of  half  his  glory;  but  history  is  arbitrary, 
and  even  the  novelist  cannot  mould  it  at  will.  The 
critical  reader  may  say  that  Cortez  never  loved 
Catalina,  and  that  his  marriage  with  her  was  a 
matter  of  policy.  But  Cortez  was  a  libertine,  a 
gay,  dashing  fellow  with  flexible  morals,  and  apt 
to  fall  in  love  with  every  pretty  girl  he  met.  He 
could  no  more  resist  the  charms  of  Marina  than 
winter's  snow  can  withstand  the  April  sun.  Her 
artless  simplicity  was  captivating.  Uneducated  in 
all  the  graces  and  accomplishments  of  civilization, 


126  ESTEVAN. 

and  knowing  nothing  of  the  laws  of  society,  save 
what  she  gleaned  from  the  man  she  worshipped,  she 
may  be  held  excusable  by  the  world.     So  rapidly 
did  she  acquire  Spanish  that  in  a  very  short  time'V, 
she  could  converse  with  him  quite  freely. 

One  day,  as  she  was  sitting  at  the  feet  of  her  lord 
as  was  her  custom,  he  said, "  Marina,  you  have  prom 
ised  to  give  me  a  history  of  your  life;  do  so  now." 
After  a  few  moments'  hesitation  she  began: 
"I  was  born  at  Painalla,  in  the  province  of 
Coatzacualco,  on  the  southeastern  borders  of  the 
Mexican  empire.  My  father,  a  rich  and  powerful 
cacique,  died  when  I  was  very  young.  My  mother  ; 
married  again,  and,  having  a  son  by  her  second 
husband,  determined  to  secure  to  him  my  rightful 
inheritance.  She  gave  it  out  that  I  was  dead,  and 
secretly  gave  me  into  the  hands  of  some  travelling 
traders  of  Xicallanco.  In  order  to  make  the  de 
ception  more  complete,  she  availed  herself  of  the 
death  of  a  child  of  one  of  her  slaves  to  substitute 
the  corpse  for  her  own  daughter,  and  celebrated  the 
funeral  with  great  solemnity.  My  masters  who 
purchased  me  were  not  very  cruel,  and  soon  after 
brought  me  to  this  part  of  the  country,  where  they 
sold  me  to  the  chief  of  Tobasco,  who  delivered  me 
to  you."  * 

*  The  story  of  Dona  Marina  is  given  in  Prescott's  Con 
quest  of  Mexico,  volume  1,  chapter  v. ,  pages  292,  293. 


DO$A    MARINA.  127 

"Your  mother  was  cruel,"  said  Cortez  at  con 
clusion  of  her  story. 

Marina  was  silent.  Her  natural  affections  and 
gentle  disposition  would  not  sanction  her  mother's 
censure,  much  as  she  deserved  it. 

"She  was  very  cruel,  and  I  will  see  to  it  that 
you  are  avenged,"  resumed  Cortez. 

"No,  no,"  she  answered,  seizing  his  hand. 

"Would  you  not  have  her  brought  to  justice?" 

"No,  she  is  my  mother." 

Appreciating  the  value  of  Dona  Marina's  ser 
vices,  Cortez  made  her  his  interpreter,  then  his 
secretary,  and,  captivated  by  her  remarkable 
charms,  took  her  to  be  his  mistress.  She  always 
remained  loyal  to  the  countrymen  of  her  adoption, 
and  her  knowledge  of  the  language  and  customs  of 
the  Mexicans,  and  fi'equently  of  their  designs,  en 
abled  her  often  to  extricate  the  Spaniards  from  the 
most  embarrassing  and  perilous  situations. 

Cortez  learned  from  the  Indians  that  he  was  now 
on  the  shores  of  the  great  Mexican  Empire.  He 
was  informed  that  the  country  was  ruled  by  the 
great  Montezuma,  who  dwelt  on  the  mountain 
plains  of  the  interior,  nearly  seventy  leagues  from 
the  coast.  The  province  at  which  Cortez  first 
touched  was  governed  by  one  of  Montezuma' s 
nobles  named  Teuhtlile. 

"I  have  visited  your  country,"  explained  Cor- 


128  ESTEVAN. 

tez  to  some  embassadors,  "to  see  your  Aztec 
governor." 

The  invader  loaded  his  visitors  with.  j>resents 
and  sent  them  away.  Next  morning,  April"  -2^ 
he  landed  with  his  entire  retinue  at  the  place  where 
now  stands  the  city  of  Vera  Cruz.  The  country 
was  a  wide,  level  plain,  save  where  the  sand  had 
drifted  into  hillocks  by  the  perpetual  blowing  of 
the  wind.  On  these  sand  dunes  he  mounted  his 
little  battery  of  artillery  so  as  to  command  the 
surrounding  country.  The  soldiers  were  employed 
in  cutting  down  the  small  trees  and  bushes  which 
grew  near,  to  provide  a  shelter  against  the  weather, 

The  landing  of  the  Spaniards  and  their  prepara 
tions  for  staying  roused  all  the  country  round 
about,  and  Teuhtlile,  the  provincial  governor,  at 
tended  by  a  numerous  train,  arrived  on  the  second 
day  after  their  landing.  He  was  taken  to  Cortez, 
who  conducted  him  with  much  ceremony  to  his 
tent,  where  his  principal  officers  were  assembled. 
The  Aztec  chief  was  polite  and  courteous,  though 
formal.  Mass  was  said  by  Father  Olmedo  and  a 
collation  was  served,  at  which  the  general  enter 
tained  his  guest  with  Spanish  wines  and  confections. 

"From  what  country  did  you  come,  and  what 
is  the  object  of  your  visit?"  Teuhtlile  asked. 

"  I  am  the  subject  of  a  powerful  monarch  beyond 
the  seas,"  Cortez  answered.  "He  rules  over  a 


"FP.OM  WHAT  COUNTRY  DO  YOU  COME  ?  ''  INy  I'lHKI)  THE  AZTEC  CHIEF. 


DONA   MARINA.  129 

powerful  empire,  and  lias  kings  and  princes  for 
his  vassals.  Having  lieard  much  of  the  greatness 
of  the  emperor  of  Mexico,  my  master  wishes  to 
enter  into  communication  with  him,  and  has  sent 
me  as  his  envoy  to  wait  on  Montezuma  with  a 
present,  in  token  of  his  good- will,  and  a  message 
which  I  must  deliver  in  person.  When  can  I  be 
admitted  to  your  sovereign's  presence?" 

"How  is  it  that  you  have  been  here  only  two 
days  and  demand  to  see  the  emperor?"  the  Aztec 
noble  haughtily  demanded. 

"I  have  a  message  for  the  emperor,  and  am  in 
a  hurry  to  deliver  it,"  answered  Cortez,  not  at  all 
perturbed  by  the  impatience  arid  anger  of  his  guest. 

Teuhtlile  was  averse  to  the  Spaniards  going  to 
Mexico.  Montezuma,  in  his  capital,  desired  to 
communicate  with  the  invaders  by  embassadors, 
but  he  was  not  at  home  to  Cortez  in  his  own  house. 

"larn  surprised  to  learn  that  there  is  another 
monarch  as  powerful  as  Montezuma,"  Teuhtlile 
said,  after  a  brief  silence.  "But  if  there  be  one, 
my  emperor  will  be  happy  to  communicate  with 
him.  '  I  will  send  my  couriers  with  the  royal  gifts 
brought  by  you,  and  as  soon  as  I  have  learned  the 
wishes  of  Montezuma,  I  will  communicate  with 
you." 

Estevau,  who  was  present,  wore  a  glittering  steel 
helmet.  This  attracted  the  attention  of  Teuhtlile. 
9 


130  ESTEVAN. 

"Give  me  the  glittering  cap  to  send  to  Monte- 
zuma,"  he  said,  "that  he  may  know  the  pale-faced 
men,  long  prophesied  by  Quetzalcoatl,  have  come." 

His  strange  request  was  made  known  to  Corte^. 

"Send  your  helmet  to  the  emperor,"  he  said  to 
Estevan;  "you  can  get  another  one." 

Estevan  approached  the  governor  to  give  him 
the  helmet.  As  he  did  so,  he  discovered  an  Indian 
hastily  making  marks  on  a  bit  of  canvas. 

"Have  you  observed  that  fellow?"  he  asked 
Cortez. 

"No;    what  is  he  doing?" 

"  He  is  an  artist.      He  has  made  a  drawing  of  us,  ' 
the  soldiers,  the  tents,  and  the  arms." 

Turning  to  Marina,  who  was  always  at  his  side, 
Cortez  asked  her  what  the  Indian  was  doing. 

"He  has  been  sent  to  make  pictures  of  all  he 
sees,  and  take  them  to  Montezuma,"  she  answered. 

In  other  words,  the  young  Indian  was  a  royal 
reporter.  The  Aztecs  had  a  system  of  hieroglyphics 
by  which  thought  was  communicated.  Este 
van  went  to  look  at  the  canvas  of  the  artist,  and 
discovered  that  it  was  not  a  bad  sketch  of  Cortez, 
himself,  and  the  other  Spaniards,  with  costumes, 
arms,  and,  in  short,  every  object  of  interest,  in  its 
appropriate  color,  displaying  no  mean  talent.  Cor 
tez  caused  the  cavalry  to  be  brought  out  on  the 
wet  sands,  and  the  wonderful  war-horses,  richly 


DO$A    MARINA.  131 

caparisoned,  inspired  the  Mexicans  with  dread;  but 
when  they  heard  the  thunder  of  cannon,  and  saw 
the  branches  and  bodies  of  trees  shivered  by  iron 
balls,  they  were  more  than  ever  amazed,  and  re 
tired,  filled  with  awe  of  the  invaders.  When  the 
governor  left  them,  Cortez  asked  Dona  Marina  what 
the  governor  meant  by  the  pale  men  of  Quetzalcoatl. 

"  It  is  the  popular  tradition  of  Quetzalcoatl,"  she 
answered. 

"Who  was  Quetzalcoatl?" 

"The fair  god." 

Filled  with  amazement,  Cortez  asked,  "Who  is 
the  fair  god?" 

Dona  Marina  mustered  up  all  the  Spanish  she 
knew,  and  answered: 

"  He  was  a  god,  who,  many  years  ago,  lived  in 
Mexico.  It  was  so  long  ago  that  the  oldest  people 
do  not  remember  him.  His  face  was  fair  like 
yours,  and  he  had  a  long  beard.  He  was  good  and 
noble,  and  after  performing  his  mission  of  benevo 
lence  he  left  us.  Under  him,  Mexico  was  more 
prosperous  than  ever  before  or  since.  He  instructed 
our  people  in  the  use  of  metals,  in  agriculture,  and 
in  governing.  The  earth  teemed  with  fruits  and 
flowers  without  the  pains  of  culture.  An  ear  of 
maize  was  as  much  as  a  man  could  carry.  The 
cotton,  as  it  grew,  took  the  richest  colors,  of  its 
own  accord,  and  the  air  was  filled  with  intoxicating 


132  ESTEVAN. 

perfumes  and  sweetest  songs  of  birds.      Such  days 
Mexico  has  never  known  since." 

"Why  did  Quetzalcoatl  leave?"  Cortez  asked. 

"He  incurred  the  wrath  of  one  of  the  principal^ 
gods." 

"For  what  cause?" 

"Our  people  never  knew." 

"How  did  he  go  away?" 

"He  went  from  Mexico  to  Cholulu,  where  he 
halted,  and  his  followers  built  a  temple  there  and 
dedicated  it  to  his  worship.  Then  he  went  to  the 
gulf,  where  he  took  leave  of  his  followers,  saying, 
'I  and  my  descendants  will  revisit  you.'  Then  he  , 
entered  his  wizard  boat,  made  of  serpents'  skins, 
and  sailed  for  the  land  of  Tlapallan.  Teuhtlile 
believes  you  are  either  Quetzalcoatl  or  a  descendant 
of  his,  for  it  is  believed  by  all  that  his  return  is 
near  at  hand." 

"Why  do  they  think  so?" 

"  I  learned  from  them,  that  nine  years  ago  the 
great  lake  of  Tezcuco,  without  any  occurrence  of 
tempest,  or  earthquake,  or  any  other  visible  cause, 
became  violently  agitated,  overflowed  its  banks, 
and,  pouring  into  the  city  of  Mexico,  swept  off 
many  of  the  buildings  by  the  fury  of  the  waters.* 


*The  above  legends  are  given  by  Prescott    and   other 
historians. 


DOtfA   MARINA.  183 

One  year  later  one  of  the  turrets  of  the  great  temple 
took  fire  without  any  cause,  and  continued  to  burn 
in  defiance  of  all  attempts  to  extinguish  it.  One 
year  later  three  comets  were  seen,  and,  not  long 
before  your  arrival,  a  strange  light  broke  forth  in 
the  east.  It  was  broad  at  its  base  on  the  horizon, 
and,  rising  in  a  pyramidal  form,  tapered  off  as  it 
approached  the  zenith,  like  a  great  sheet  of  fire 
thickly  powdered  with  stars.  At  the  same  time, 
low  voices  were  heard  on  the  air,  and  doleful  wail- 
ings,  as  if  to  announce  some  strange,  mysterious 
calamity.  Are  you  really  the  fair  god  returned?" 
Marina  asked  in  conclusion. 

"Tell  them  I  am,  and  that  I  will  destroy  all 
who  do  not  submit  to  me." 

The  shrewd  Cortes  was  both  politician  and 
diplomat,  and  he  determined  to  take  advantage  of 
the  superstition  of  the  Mexicans.  Just  as  he 
seemed  to  reach  smooth  waters  there  arose  a  dis 
affection  among  his  own  followers.  His  people 
became  divided.  A  part  of  them,  loyal  to  Velas 
quez,  wanted  to  return  to  Cuba,  while  another 
party,  headed  by  Estevan,  remained  true  to  Cortez. 
The  city  of  Yera  Cruz  (The  True  Cross)  was  laid 
out  and  duly  incorporated  in  the  name  of  the  king 
of  Spain.  A  mayor,  alguacil,  and  officers  were 
elected.  Cortez  shrewdly  had  his  friends  placed 
in  office  under  the  new  municipality,  and,  resign- 


134  ESTEVAN. 

ing  to  them,  asked  that  a  leader  be  appointed.  He 
was  of  course  appointed  governor  general  of 
Mexico,  and  thus  claimed  to  have  a  commission 
from  the  crown,  and  a  higher  authority  than  Velas- 
quez. 

A  number  of  persons,  with  the  priest  Juan  Diaz 
at  their  head,  ill-affected  toward  the  administration 
of  Cortez,  laid  a  plan  to  seize  a  ship  and  make  the 
best  of  their  way  back  to  Cuba  and  report  to  the 
governor.  The  plot  was  conducted  with  so  much 
secrecy  that  supplies  were  placed  on  board  without 
arousing  suspicion,  and  had  not  one  of  the  party 
relented  at  the  last  moment  and  betrayed  the 
scheme,  it  would  have  been  successful.  The  accused 
parties  were  arrested  and  found  guilty.  Two  of 
the  ringleaders  were  condemned  to  death,  the  pilot 
lost  his  feet,  and  all  others,  save  the  priest,  who 
claimed  benefit  of  clergy,  were  whipped. 

One  of  the  condemned  men  was  Escudero,  the 
alguacil  who  arrested  Cortez  before  the  sanctuary 
in  Cuba.  Although  the  governor,  on  signing  the 
death  warrant,  regretted  that  he  had  ever  learned 
to  write,  yet  to  Escudero  he  betrayed  no  such 
emotion. 

"  I  promised  to  hang  you,  and  you  see  I  keep 
my  word,"  he  said. 

At  sun-rise  next  morning,  the  doomed  men  were 
hung. 


DONA    MARINA.  135 

"So perish  all  your  enemies,"  said  Doiia  Marina, 
who  had  been  a  witness  to  the  execution,  turning 
to  Cortez. 

"Dona  Marina,  will  you  always  be  faithful  to 
rne?"  he  asked. 

Pointing  to  the  swaying  bodies,  she  answered: 
"When  I  am  not,  let  my  fate  be  the  same!" 


CHAPTER  IX. 
THE  BLOODHOUND'S  VICTIM. 

MONTHS  an&  years  went  by  and  Christina  awaited 
the  return  of  her  husband.  Eumors  of  all  sorts 
were  rife, but  authentic  news  was  scarce.  Velasquez 
came  frequently  to  her  house  to  try,  by  bribes  and 
threats,  to  induce  Christopher  to  reveal  the  hiding- 
place  of  Zuna,  but  in  vain. 

"Tell  me  where  I  can  find  the  old  slave,  lad, 
who  told  you  of  the  city  of  gold,  and  I  will  make 
it  profitable  to  you.  I  will  forgive  your  father 
his  crime." 

"I  will  not!" 

"Will  not,  when  I  promise  to  forgive  your 
father?" 

"My  father  has  done  nothing  to  be  forgiven — 

"By  St.  Anthony!  he  is  too  wise  for  his  years. 
Come,  good  Christopher,  tell  me  of  the  slave's 
hiding-place." 

"You  would  drag  her  back  and  beat  her.  She 
would  die  on  the  rack  before  she  would  reveal  the 
secret." 

136 


THE  BLOODHOUND'S  VICTIM.  137 

The  governor  occasionally  lost  his  temper,  and 
swore  he  would  imprison  the  lad  and  torture  the 
secret  from  him.  But  he  dared  not  do  this,  arbi 
trary  as  his  power  was.  One  day,  as  Christopher 
was  roaming  through  the  forests  near  the  town  of 
St.  Jago,  he  was  startled  by  the  crack  of  a  match 
lock.  The  report  of  a  gun  in  the  wood  was  too 
common  to  excite  more  than  momentary  attention, 
had  he  not  immediately  heard  the  shriek  of  a 
woman. 

Christopher  had  grown  to  be  a  stout  lad,  and 
could  wield  a  crossbow  quite  effectively.  On  this 
morning  he  had  his  wreapon  with  him,  and  in 
voluntarily  seized  a  bolt  on  hearing  the  shriek  of 
pain. 

"It  is  another  slave-hunter,"  he  said.  "Surely 
God  will  not  let  these  crimes  go  unpunished." 

Impelled  by  curiosity,  the  lad  pressed  on 
through  the  everglades  and  luxuriant  shrubbery  of 
the  tropics,  his  heart  beating  wildly,  and  his  hands 
clutching  his  crossbow.  He  came  in  sight  of  two 
Spaniards  armed  with  arquebuses  and  swords. 
They  did  not  see  him,  although  he  was  so  near 
that,  crouching  behind  some  palms,  he  could  hear 
what  they  said: 

"She  has  escaped,  Bernardo,"  said  one. 

"But  she  bleeds,  Pedro.  Put  the  bloodhound 
on  her  trail  and  he  will  soon  rend  her  to  pieces, 


138  ESTEVAN. 

while  we  will  go  to  Narvaez  and  report  that  she  is 
slain." 

Christopher  now  discovered  that  one  of  the  men 
held  a  dog  by  a  stout  cord.  The  furious  anirilai 
set  up  a  howl  that  was  calculated  to  freeze  the 
blood  in  one's  veins.  The  Spaniard  released  the 
bloodhound,  and  it  bounded  away  on  the  trail  of 
the  fugitive  slave  while  its  masters  went  back  to 
St.  Jago. 

"The  beast  shall  not  tear  the  slave,  "cried  Chris 
topher,  his  eyes  filling  with  tears.  "  I  will  slay  it." 

Then  he  gave  chase  to  shoot  the  dog  with  his 
crossbow.  The  occasional  baying  of  the  beast 
told  him  the  course  in  which  it  was  going.  Two 
or  three  times  he  came  in  sight  of  the  dog  and 
raised  his  weapon  to  send  a  bolt  to  its  heart,  while 
it  paused  for  a  moment  in  doubt,  sniffing  the 
ground  and  wagging  its  tail,  but  each  time  it  found 
the  trail  again,  and  bounded  away  with  howls  of 
rage. 

"  I  will  follow  it  from  one  end  of  the  island  to 
the  other  or  save  the  victim." 

The  fugitive  had  been  wounded  by  the  shot 
from  the  matchlock;  for  Christopher  saw  an  occa 
sional  drop  of  blood  on  the  grass  or  leaves  along  the 
path.  He  had  crossed  a  ravine,  when  just  over 
the  hill  he  heard  a  terrible  shriek,  and  the  howl 
of  the  beast  indicated  that  the  fugitive  had  been 


THE   BLOODHOUND'S  VICTIM.  139 

found.  Christopher  flew  with  all  possible  speed 
over  the  hill,  through  the  mahogany  trees.  At 
last  he  came  upon  a  sight  calculated  to  melt  a 
heart  of  stone.  An  Indian  woman,  who,  despite 
years  of  suffering  and  deprivation,  was  still  beauti 
ful,  held  a  child  two  or  three  years  old  in  her 
wounded  arm,  and  beat  off  a  dog  with  a  stick  which 
she  had  snatched  from  the  ground.  She  was  un 
able  long  to  resist  the  attacks  of  the  furious  beast, 
and,  even  as  the  boy  knelt  and  aimed  his  cross 
bow,  it  leaped  upon  her,  tearing  her  side  with  its 
awful  fangs.  With  a  shriek,  she  dropped  the 
child. 

"Fly,  Christoval,  for  your  life!"  she  cried 
in  Spanish. 

Too  much  horrified  to  move,  the  child  stood 
rooted  to  the  spot,  and  the  dog  continued  to  rend 
the  woman.  Christopher  Estevan  aimed  his  cross 
bow  at  the  dog's  side,  and  sent  a  bolt  whizzing  to 
the  mark.  Though  mortally  wounded,  the  furious 
animal  continued  to  rend  the  woman,  until  Chris 
topher  rushed  upon  it  and  stabbed  it  to  the  heart 
with  his  dagger.  For  a  moment  the  lad  was  at  a 
loss  what  to  do.  The  woman  had  swooned  and 
the  child  stood  sobbing  with  terror.  He  discovered 
that  it  was  but  a  short  distance  to  Zuna's  cave,  the 
place  of  refuge  for  fugitive  slaves,  and  started  to 
go  there  for  assistance.  Fortunately,  he  met  one 


142  E8TEVAN. 

gone  to  that  God,  and  I  shall  follow.  But  for 
leaving  our  child,  I  would  rejoice." 

"Tell  me  your  sad  story,  poor  woman,  for  I 
have  only  heard  part  of  your  wrongs." 

She  gave  Fulvia  another  drink  of  wine,  while 
she  sought  to  stop  the  flow  of  blood  from  the 
gaping  wound  in  her  side.  Little  Christoval  gazed 
on  the  agonized  features  of  her  mother,  and,  though 
she  realized  that  death  would  soon  make  her  an  or 
phan,  she  gave  no  outcry.  She  still  clung  to  young 
Estevan  as  if  she  depended  on  him  for  protection. 

The  dying  woman  fixed  her  eyes  on  Christina. 

"Would  you  hear  my  tale  of  woe  and  wrong?" 
she  asked.  "Listen,  and  learn  what  a  devil  jealous 
envy  and  hatred  may  make  of  a  man,  even  a 
Spaniard.  Balboa,  was  good,  brave,  and  noble,  and 
he  loved  me.  I  followed  him  through  many  of 
his  terrible  marches  and  still  more  terrible  battles. 
My  love  was  as  potent  in  protecting  him  from 
poisoned  darts,  as  was  his  quilted  armor.  The 
governor  came  and  asked  him  to  abandon  me  for 
his  daughter — 

A  paroxysm  of  pain  seized  her,  and  for  several 
moments  she  was  unable  to  speak.  As  soon  as  it 
had  passed  she  resumed: 

"Buthewrould  not  give  me  up.  He  preferred 
death  with  me,  to  life  and  honors  with  the  daugh 
ter  of  the  governor.  He  said  I  was  more  to  him 


THE   BLOODHOUND'S  VICTIM.  143 

than  the  queen  on  her  throne.  They  knew  this, 
and,  seizing  him,  threw  him  into  prison " 

Another  spasrn  of  pain,  a  few  moments  silence, 
and  she  continued: 

"I  saw  him.  Oh,  how  grand — how  noble  he 
looked,  as  lie  stood  before  his  accusers!  I  begged 
them  to  slay  me  in  his  stead,  but  they  would  not. 
They  drove  me  off.  He  turned  to  me  as  he  took 
his  last  view  of  the  world,  and  said,  ' Farewell, 
Ful via,  I  die  for  loving  you. ' 

"  Then  they  did  the  awful  deed,  and  I  swooned. 
I  had  seen  blood  shed  until  I  thought  I  was  accus 
tomed  to  it;  but  never  had  I  beheld  such  a  sight. 
He  lived  like  a  lord,  he  died  like  a  hero." 

"  Where  have  you  been  since  Balboa's  execu 
tion?"  Christina  asked. 

"  I  have  wandered  part  of  the  time  with  my  own 
people,  and  part  of  the  time  with  other  tribes. 
Seven  months  after  his  death  our  child  was  born. 
I  named  her  Christoval .  The  rage  of  the  governor 
followed  me  wherever  I  went.  He  sought  to  make 
me  and  my  child  slaves;  but  I  escaped  from  his 
dominion,  and  went  to  an  island  to  live  with  peo 
ple  friendly  to  my  father.  About  a  year  ago  some 
Spaniards,  coasting  along  the  shore,  saw  me  with 
my  child  on  the  beach. 

"'Esclavos!'  they  cried,  and  landing,  gave  us 
chase.  I  fled,  carrying  my  child  in  my  arms. 


144  ESTEVAN. 

"'Stop,  or  we  will  slay  you,'  cried  one,  dis 
charging  his  crossbow  and  sending  the  bolt  over 
my  head.  Encumbered  as  I  was  with  my  child, 
they  outran  me,  and  before  I  reached  the  savanna- . 
where  I  hoped  to  conceal  myself,  I  was  seized  and 
held  in  a  grasp  of  steel. 

"'The  slave  thought  to  escape  with  her  brat, ' 
cried  one. 

"  'I  am  not  a  slave,  I  am  the  wife  of  Balboa,'  I 
answered. 

"At  this  they  laughed,  and  one  said: 

"'By  the  mass!  the  child  has  white  blood  in  its 
veins. ' 

'"But  its  Indian  blood  makes  it  a  slave,'  an 
other  answered.  'Narvaez  will  pay  us  well  for  the 
child,  even  if  it  is  half  white.' 

"  Vain  were  all  my  pleadings;  they  either  believed 
me  not,  or,  believing  me,  heeded  not.  I  was  put 
on  board  a  ship  with  a  number  of  other  slaves,  and 
brought  to  Cuba.  At  St.  Jago  I  was  turned  over 
to  Narvaez,  in  whose  face  I  read  cruelty  at  first 
glance.  Falling  on  my  knees,  I  implored  him  to 
spare  me,  and  told  my  story.  He  smiled  when  I 
said  I  was  the  wife  of  Balboa,  and  answered  that 
no  Christian  could  wed  a  heathen.  In  vain  I  told 
him  I  had  been  baptized  in  the  Spanish  faith;  he 
said  I  was  nevertheless  his  slave.  Then  I  appealed 
for  our  child  in  the  name  of  my  dead  lord,  but  he 


THE  BLOODHOUND'S  VICTIM.  145 

said  Balboa  was  an  outlaw,  and,  having  forfeited 
his  life  in  rebellion  against  the  crown,  his  child 
could  gam  nothing  by  his  death." 

She  had  exhausted  her  strength,  and  Christina 
gave  her  more  wine  and  waited  for  her  to  resume. 
Though  she  grew  weaker  as  she  neared  the  dark 
portals  of  death,  her  suffering  became  less.  After 
a  few  moments,  she  partially  revived  and  resumed 
her  story. 

"For  the  last  year  my  life  has  been  one  of  toil, 
degradation,  poor  food,  and  the  lash.  Again  and 
again  I  was  ready  to  sink  in  despair,  when  my  love 
for  Balboa's  child  strengthened  me.  I  could 
almost  forgive  my  master  as  long  as  he  permitted 
her  to  remain  with  me,  for  in  her  eyes  I  saw  his. 
Her  face  and  voice  were  those  of  my  own  Balboa 
again.  Yesterday,  however,  my  suspicions  were 
roused,  and  playing  the  spy  on  my  master,  I  learned 
that  my  child  was  to  be  sold  and  sent  to  San 
Domingo.  Such  intelligence  was  enough  to  madden 
a  mother's  brain.  I  spent  the  night  in  praying  for 
strength  to  baffle  them.  I  thought  of  taking  Chris- 
tovai  and  seeking  freedom  beneath  the  waters  of 
the  bay,  preferring  death  to  separation.  But  other 
slaves  had  escaped,  and  why  not  we?  I  watched 
my  chance  and  when  an  opportunity  came,  I  seized 
Chnstoval  in  my  arms  and  fled  through  the  tall 
cane  to  the  woods.  I  was  pursued  by  two  or  three 
10 


146  ESTEVAN. 

slave-hunters  who  fired  and  wounded  me;  then  they 
put  a  bloodhound  on  my  trail.  I  ran,  I  screamed, 
I  fought,  but  the  dog  tore  me,  and  now  I  must  die 
and  leave  her  behind.  Who  will  care  for  Chris,- 
toval?" 

"I  will,"  answered  Christina. 

"And  keep  her  from  slavery?" 

"I  will."  It  was  a  hazardous  undertaking,  but 
the  brave  little  senora  hesitated  not, 

"Take  her,  kind  angel,"  gasped  the  dying 
woman,  putting  the  child's  hand  in  Christina's. 
"Guard  her  with  your  life,  for  she  is  the  last  of 
two  noble  families,  one  of  the  old  and  one  of  the 
new  world." 

"I  will  care  for  her  as  my  own;  but  you  may 
yet  recover." 

Fulvia  shook  her  head,  then  closing  her  eyes  she 
seemed  to  sleep.  The  senora  brought  a  stool  and 
sat  by  the  woman,  whose  breathing  grew  more 
difficult  every  moment.  Little  Christoval,  with  her 
large,  dafk  eyes  open  wide  in  wonder,  gazed  at 
her  dying  mother,  while  she  clung  to  her  young 
rescuer.  The  fugitive  slaves  moved  about  with 
noiseless  tread.  Some  wax  tapers  had  been 
brought  and  lighted,  giving  a  ghastly  light  in  the 
dark  cave. 

For  two  hours  Fulvia  slept,  and  then,  awaking, 
she  started  up. 


THE    BLOODHOUND'S  VICTIM.  147 

"Where  is  she?"  she  asked. 

"Who?''  asked  the  senora. 

"His  child." 

"Here,"  anwered  Christopher,  leading  the  little 
girl  to  her  dying  mother. 

Taking  one  little  hand  in  her  own,  she  seized 
Christopher  with  her  other. 

"She  is  his  child,  take  her,  keep  her  from 
harm,"  she  said. 

"I  will,"  the  lad  answered. 

"Swear  it!" 

"I  do." 

"Her  father  was  a  nobleman  from  Spain.  He 
loved  me,  oh!  he  loved  me  more  than  the  great 
governor's  daughter.  They  slew  him  before  my 
eyes  because  he  would  not  give  me  up  for  a  fairer 
bride;  but  he  loved  me,  and  I  am  going  to  him. 
Take  our  Christoval — go — fly  with  her — the  slave- 
driver  comes.  No,  no,  it  is  Balboa — he  calls  me 
—my  love! — I  come.  I  come!" 

She  relaxed  her  hold,  her  eyes  closed,  and  for  a 
long  time  all  thought  she  slept.  Christina  bent 
over,  and  gazed  for  a  moment  on  the  calm,  sweet 
face. 

"  Lead  the  child  away,"  she  whispered  to  her  son. 

Then  she  covered  up  the  mother's  face,  on  which 
a  smile  rested.  All  was  over.  Balboa's  bride 
had  crossed  the  mystic  stream  to  join  him. 


CHAPTER    X. 

THE   GOLDEN   CONQUEST.* 

As  the  setting  sun  threw  its  last  beam  over  the 
magical  valley.  Cortez  gazed  from  afar  on  a  most 
wonderful  scene.  It  was  an  unknown  city  in  an 
unknown  world,  peopled  by  a  race  evincing  a  high 
state  of  civilization.  The  little  band  of  conquerors^ 
had  fought  their  way  inch  by  inch  from  the  coast 
to  the  valley  of  Mexico.  They  were  encamped  on 
the  hills  above  ready  to  descend  into  the  valley 
early  next  morning. 

Cortez  slept  but  little  the  night  before  his  tri 

- 

ambitions  mind  was  busy  with  the  future  and  the 
pa=t.  Like  a  terrible  panorama,  the  events  of  the 
past  few  month.-  swept  before  him  as,  wrapped  in 
his  cloak,  he  lay  on  the  ground,  his  saddle  for  a 
.. 

*ln  the  description  of  the  city  and  valley  of  Mexico 
given  in  this  chapter,  iLe  author  La=  taken  Preaoott  for 
hi*  guide. 


THE   GOLDEN  CONQUEST.  149 

Like  a  shrewd  general  and  cunning  politician, 
he  had  succeeded  in  dividing  the  enemy  into  fac 
tions,  turning  them  against  each  other.  While 
professing  friendship  to  Montezuma,  he  incited  his 
subjects  to  rebellion.  His  path  from  the  coast  to 
the  valley  of  Mexico  was  a  trail  of  blood.  Ever 
at  his  side,  encouraging  him  by  word  and  act,  was 
Dofia  Marina.  In  peace  or  war  she  was  his  coun 
sellor  and  adviser.  The  darts  never  flew  too  thick 
to  drive  her  from  his  side,  until  the  Aztecs  came 
to  believe  that  she,  as  well  as  Cortez,  was  a  super 
natural  being,  not  to  be  slain  with  mortal  weapons. 
Next  to  Dona  Marina  was  Cortez's  friend  Hernando 
Estevan.  He  who  had  been  first  to  land  with 
Columbus  on  the  shores  of  the  New  World  was  in 
the  van  on  that  dangerous  march  to  Mexico. 

Long  before  dawn  Estevan  was  awakened  by 
voices,  and,  rising,  he  buckled  on  his  armor. 

"This  day  will  witness  the  beginning  of  our 
triumph  or  our  death,"  he  thought.  Estevan  was 
now  a  battle-scarred  veteran,  who  had  come  to  re 
gard  death-struggles  with  indifference.  He  sat 
down  to  await  the  dawn,  when  again  voices  reached 
his  ear.  A  female  voice,  low  and  soft  as  rippling 
waters  was  heard  first. 

"For  shame!  to  fear  now,  when  triumph  is 
within  your  grasp.  You  know  Cortez  cannot  be 
defeated." 


150  ESTEVAN. 

It  was  Dona  Marina,  talking  to  some  faltering 
soldiers. 

"He is  but  a  man, "answered  one  of  the  soldiers, 
"and  any  man  may  fail.      He  destroyed  our  ships,>- 
led  us  into  the  heart  of  a  hostile   nation,  and  now 
proposes  to  take  us  into  the  capital  where  we  may 
be  butchered  without  mercy." 

"Coward!"  hissed  Marina  in  disgust,  "can 
you  fear  with  such  a  leader?  Montezuma  will  not 
dare  resist  Cortez,  and  if  you  murmur  again,  I  will 
have  you  hanged." 

The  soldier  slunk  away,  silenced  for  the  time 
being  by  the  threat.  ; 

Estevan  rose  to  his  feet,  yawning  and  shivering 
with  the  damp  and  chill  of  early  morning.  Cortez 
came  toward  him  at  that  moment. 

"Estevan,  is  your  company  in  readiness?"  he 
asked. 

"It  is." 

"Are  the  men  in  good  spirits?" 

"They  seem  to  be,  general." 

"We  will  be  in  the  valley  before  the  sun  sets. 
Bid  your  men  be  firm  and  watchful.  Monte 
zuma  is  a  shrewd  and  treacherous  knave.  We 
must  be  watchful,  for  we  shall  soon  be  within  his 
walls." 

At  early  dawn  the  trumpet  sounded  the  reveille, 
and  the  Spaniards  formed  for  the  march.  The 


THE   GOLDEN   CONQUEST.  151 

troops,  refreshed  by  a  night's  rest,  succeeded  soon 
after  sun-rise,  in  gaining  the  crest  of  the  sierra  of 
Ahualco,  which  stretches  like  a  curtain  between 
the  two  great  mountains  on  the  north  and  south. 

A  blast  of  trumpets  gave  the  order  to  advance, 
and  the  march  began.  It  was  a  sublime  sight. 
The  rising  sun  flashed  on  the  glittering  spears, 
banners,  and  gayly  caparisoned  horses,  prancing 
in  time  to  the  martial  music.  They  had  not  ad 
vanced  far,  when,  turning  an  cingle  of  the  sierra, 
they  came  suddenly  on  a  view  which  fully  com 
pensated  them  for  the  weeks  of  toil  and  hardship. 
It  was  the  valley  of  Mexico,  or  Tenochtlitan,  as  it 
was  called  by  the  Aztecs.  With  its  picturesque 
groupings  of  water,  woodland,  and  cultivated  plains, 
shining  cities  and  shadowy  hills,  it  lay  spread  out 
like  some  gorgeous  panorama  before  them.  In  the 
highly  rarefied  atmosphere  of  these  upper  regions, 
even  remote  objects  have  a  brilliancy  of  coloring 
and  a  distinctiness  of  outline,  which  seem  to  an 
nihilate  distance.  Stretching  far  away  below  them 
were  seen  noble  forests  of  oak,  sycamore,  and 
cedar,  and,  beyond,  yellow  fields  of  maize,  and  the 
towering  maguey,  intermingled  with  orchards  and 
blooming  gardens.  In  the  centre  of  the  great 
basin  were  lakes,  then  occupying  a  much  larger 
portion  of  its  surface  than  at  present.  Their 
borders  were  studded  thickly  with  towns  and 


150  ESTEVAN. 

It  was  Dona  Marina,  talking  to  some  faltering 
soldiers. 

"He is  but  a  man, "answered  one  of  the  soldiers, 
"and  any  man  may  fail.      He  destroyed  our  ship's; •> 
led  us  into  the  heart  of  a  hostile   nation,  and  now 
proposes  to  take  us  into  the  capital  where  we  may 
be  butchered  without  mercy." 

"Coward!"  hissed  Marina  in  disgust,  "can 
you  fear  with  such  a  leader?  Montezuma  will  not 
dare  resist  Cortez,  and  if  you  murmur  again,  I  will 
have  you  hanged." 

The  soldier  slunk  away,  silenced  for  the  time 
being  by  the  threat. 

Estevan  rose  to  his  feet,  yawning  and  shivering 
with  the  damp  and  chill  of  early  morning.  Cortez 
came  toward  him  at  that  moment. 

"Estevan,  is  your  company  in  readiness?"  he 
asked. 

"It  is." 

"Are  the  men  in  good  spirits?" 

"They  seem  to  be,  general." 

"We  will  be  in  the  valley  before  the  sun  sets. 
Bid  your  men  be  firm  and  watchful.  Monte 
zuma  is  a  shrewd  and  treacherous  knave.  We 
must  be  watchful,  for  we  shall  soon  be  within  his 
walls." 

At  early  dawn  the  trumpet  sounded  the  reveille, 
and  the  Spaniards  formed  for  the  march.  The 


THE   GOLDEN   CONQUEST.  151 

troops,  refreshed  by  a  night's  rest,  succeeded  soon 
after  sun-rise,  in  gaining  the  crest  of  the  sierra  of 
Ahualco,  which  stretches  like  a  curtain  between 
the  two  great  mountains  on  the  north  and  south. 

A  blast  of  trumpets  gave  the  order  to  advance, 
and  the  march  began.  It  was  a  sublime  sight. 
The  rising  sun  flashed  on  the  glittering  spears, 
banners,  and  gayly  caparisoned  horses,  prancing 
in  time  to  the  martial  music.  They  had  not  ad 
vanced  far,  when,  turning  an  angle  of  the  sierra, 
they  came  suddenly  on  a  view  which  fully  com 
pensated  them  for  the  weeks  of  toil  and  hardship. 
It  was  the  valley  of  Mexico,  or  Tenochtlitan,  as  it 
was  called  by  the  Aztecs.  With  its  picturesque 
groupings  of  water,  woodland,  and  cultivated  plains, 
shining  cities  and  shadowy  hills,  it  lay  spread  out 
like  some  gorgeous  panorama  before  them.  In  the 
highly  rarefied  atmosphere  of  these  upper  regions, 
even  remote  objects  have  a  brilliancy  of  coloring 
and  a  distinctiness  of  outline,  which  seem  to  an 
nihilate  distance.  Stretching  far  away  below  them 
were  seen  noble  forests  of  oak,  sycamore,  and 
cedar,  and,  beyond,  yellow  fields  of  maize,  and  the 
towering  maguey,  intermingled  with  orchards  and 
blooming  gardens.  In  the  centre  of  the  great 
basin  were  lakes,  then  occupying  a  much  larger 
portion  of  its  surface  than  at  present.  Their 
borders  were  studded  thickly  with  towns  and 


152  .     ESTEVAN. 

hamlets,  and  in  the  midst,  like  some  Indian  em 
press  with  her  coronal  of  pearls,  was  the  fair  city  of 
Mexico,  with  white  towers  and  pyramidal  temples, 
reposing,  as  it  were,  on  the  bosom  of  the  waters— 
the  far-famed  "Venice  of  the  Aztecs."  High 
over  all,  rose  the  royal  hill  of  Chapultepec,  the 
residence  of  the  Mexican  monarchs,  crowned  with 
gigantic  cypresses,  which  to  this  day  fling  their 
shadows  over  the  land.  In  the  distance,  beyond 
the  blue  waters  of  the  lake,  and  nearly  screened  by 
intervening  foliage,  was  seen  a  shining  speck,  the 
rival  capital  of  Tezcuco,  and  still  further  on,  the 
dark  belt  of  parphyr,  girdling  the  valley  like  a 
rich  setting  which  nature  had  devised  for  the  fairest 
of  her  jewels.  Such  was  the  beautiful  vision 
which  greeted  the  eyes  of  the  Spanish  conquerors. 
They  gazed  for  the  first  time  on  a  strange  valley,  a 
strange  people,  and  a  wonderful  city,  in  a  land 
which,  forty  years  before,  was  unknown  to  the 
civilized  world.  Overwhelming  emotions  stirred 
the  breast  of  Cortez,  when,  after  working  his  toil 
some  way  into  the  upper  air,  the  cloudy  veil  parted 
before  his  eyes,  and  he  beheld  these  fair  scenes  in 
all  their  pristine  glor}^.  The  poetic  feelings  of 
Cortez,  roused  by  the  grandeur  of  the  scene,  soon 
gave  way  to  more  sordid  thoughts,  for  he  saw  here 
evidences  of  a  civilization  and  power  far  superior  to 
anything  he  had  yet  encountered  in  the  New  World. 


THE   GOLDEN   CONQUEST.  153 

Estevan  noticed  that  some  of  his  own  true  and 
tried  cavaliers  began  to  shrink  from  the  unequal 
contest  before  them  and  he  galloped  quickly  to  the 
side  of  Cortez. 

"Some  of  the  men  shrink  from  the  invasion, 
now  that  they  see  what  a  city  we  are  to  conquer," 
he  whispered. 

""We  cannot  turn  back  now,"  answered  Cor 
tez. 

The  scene  had  no  such  effect  on  the  sanguine 
general.  His  avarice  was  sharpened  by  the  dis 
play  of  dazzling  spoil  at  his  feet;  and,  if  he  felt  a 
natural  anxiety  at  the  formidable  odds,  his  confi 
dence  was  renewed  as  he  gazed  on  the  lines  of  his 
weatherbeaten  veterans,  while  his  bold  barbarian 
allies,  with  appetites  whetted  by  the  view  of  their 
enemies'  country,  seemed  like  eagles  ready  to 
swoop  down  upon  their  prey. 

"  Why  have  you  cause  to  falter  now?"  Cortez 
asked  his  shrinking  soldiers.  "Have  we  not  suc 
ceeded  in  overcoming  every  difficulty  until  the 
golden  conquest  is  in  our  hands.  We  have  reached 
the  goal  at  last,  and,  now  that  the  gates  are  open 
to  receive  us,  should  we  turn  back?" 

He  was  ably  seconded  by  Estevan  in  his  efforts 
to  restore  the  spirits  of  the  faltering,  until  the 
faintest  hearts  caught  some  of  their  leader's  fire, 
and  the  general  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  his 


154  ESTEVAN 

hesitating  columns,  with  buoyant  step,  once  more 
on  their  march  down  the  slope  of  the  sierra. 

Having  desended  to  ihe  valley,  the  army  ad 
vanced  by  easy  stages,  somewhat  retarded  by  tRe 
crowd  ot  curious  inhabitants  gathered  on  the  high 
ways  to  see  the  wonderful  strangers.  Another 
embassy  from  the  capital  met  them.  It  was  com 
posed  of  Aztec  lords,  bearing  richer  gifts  of  gold 
and  robes,  and  more  delicate  furs  and  feathers,  than 
they  had  hitherto  seen.  The  object  of  the  embassy 
was  to  bribe  their  return,  Montezurna  promising 
four  loads  of  gold  to  Cortez,  one  to  each  of  his 
captains,  and  a  yearly  tribute  to  their  sovereign. 
The  very  offer  increased  the  determination  of  Cor 
tez  to  press  on  to  the  golden  conquest,  and  he  con 
tinued  his  advance  to  the  city. 

Meanwhile  Montezuma  was  a  prey  to  the  most 
gloomy  forebodings  and  apprehensions.  When 
his  last  embassadors  returned  with  the  information 
that  the  mysterious  strangers  would  not  turn  back, 
but  continued  to  advance;  that  they  had  crossed  the 
mountain  chain  and  were  on  their  march  across  the 
valley  to  the  very  threshold  of  his  capital,  his  heart 
sank  within  him.  From  the  first,  he  had  believed 
himself  in  the  web  of  inexorable  fate,  against  which 
no  precaution  or  foresight  could  avail.  It  was  as 
if  the  strange  beings,  who  had  thus  invaded  his 
shores,  had  dropped  from  some  distant  planet,  so 


THE    GOLDEN   CONQUEST.  155 

different  were  they  from  all  he  had  ever  seen. 
Though  a  mere  handful  in  numbers,  they  were  so 
superior  in  strength  and  science,  and  all  the  fearful 
accompaniments  of  war,  that  all  the  banded  nations 
of  Anahuac  could  not  prevail  against  them.  They 
were  now  in  the  valley.  The  huge  mountain  screen, 
which  nature  had  so  kindly  drawn  around  for  its 
defence,  had  been  overleaped  by  the  pale-faced 
descendants  of  Quetzalcoatl.  The  golden  vision  of 
security  in  which  Montezuma  had  so  long  indulged, 
the  lordly  sway  descended  from  his  ancestors,  his 
broad  imperial  domain,  were  all  to  pass  away.  It 
seemed  like  some  terrible  dream,  from  which  he 
was  to  awake  to  a  still  more  terrible  reality. 

Halting  at  Ajotzinco,  a  town  of  considerable 
size,  the  army  remained  until  morning,  when,  as 
they  were  preparing  to  leave  the  place,  a  courier 
came,  requesting  them  to  postpone  their  departure 
until  the  arrival  of  the  king  of  Tezcuco,  who  was 
advancing  to  meet  Cortez. 

11  Here  is  an  opportunity  to  gain  another  ally!" 
said  the  wily  conqueror  to  Estevan.  Before  long 
the  king  appeared  on  a  palanquin  which  literally 
glittered  with  gold  and  precious  stones,  having 
pillars  curiously  wrought,  supporting  green  plumes, 
a  favorite  color  with  Aztec  princes.  After  an  in 
terchange  of  courtesies,  and  the  most  friendly  and 
respectful  assurances  on  the  part  of  Cortez,  the 


156  ESTEVAN. 

Indian  king  withdrew,  leaving  the  Spaniards 
strongly  impressed  with  the  superiority  of  his  state 
and  bearing  over  anything  they  had  hitherto  seen 
in  the  country.  " 

After  his  departure  Cortez  resumed  his  march, 
keeping  along  the  southern  borders  of  Lake  Chalco, 
overshadowed,  at  that  time,  by  noble  woods,  and 
orchards  glowing  with  autumnal  fruits  of  unknown 
names,  but  rich  and  tempting  hues  On  every 
side  were  cultivated  fields,  waving  with  yellow  har 
vests,  irrigated  by  canals  introduced  from  the 
neighboring  lake,  the  whole  showing  careful  culti 
vation,  and  looking  to  the  invaders  like  a  veritable 
paradise. 

Bewildered,  the  Spaniards  advanced  through  the 
wonderful  country,  half  believing  that  they  were 
entering  a  new  world.  Leaving  the  main  land, 
they  came  to  the  great  dike,  or  causeway,  which 
stretched  some  four  or  five  miles  in  length,  and 
divided  Lake  Chalco  from  Xochialco  on  the  west. 
It  was  ten  or  twelve  feet  in  breadth  at  the  narrowest 
place,  and  at  others  wide  enough  for  eight  horsemen 
to  ride  abreast.  It  was  a  solid  structure  of  stone 
and  lime,  running  directly  through  the  lake,  and 
was  the  most  marvellous  piece  of  workmanship  the 
Spaniards  had  yet  seen  in  this  land  of  wonders. 

As  they  passed  along,  they  beheld  the  gay  spec 
tacle  of  multitudes  of  Indians  darting  up  and  down 


THE   GOLDEN  CONQUEST.  157 

in  their  light  pirogues,  eager  to  catch  a  glimpse  of 
the  strangers,  or  bearing  the  products  of  the  country 
to  the  neighboring  cities.  The  chinampas,  or  float 
ing  gardens,  those  wandering  islands  of  verdure, 
teeming  with  flowers  and  burdening  the  air  with 
perfume,  delighted  and  amazed  the  invaders.  All 
around  the  margin,  and  occasionally  far  into  the 
lake,  they  beheld  little  towns  and  villages,  which, 
half  concealed  by  foliage,  or  gathered  in  white 
clusters  on  the  shores,  resembled  wild  swans  m 
hiding.  A  scene  so  new  and  wonderful  was  like 
an  enchantment,  and  the  Spaniards  could  compare 
it  with  nothing  save  the  magical  picture  in  the 
"Amadis  de  Gaula. "  No  production  of  the  most 
fertile  imagination  could  surpass  the  realities  of 
their  own  experience.  The  life  of  the  adventurer 
in  the  new  world  was  romance  put  in  action. 

Half  way  across  the  lake  they  halted  at  the  beau 
tiful  town  of  Cuitlahuac  for  rest  and  refreshment, 
and  then  resumed  their  march  along  the  dike. 
From  the  causeway,  the  army  descended  to  that 
narrow  point  of  land  which  divided  the  waters  of 
the  Lake  Chaico  from  the  Tezcucan  lake,  then  over 
flowing  many  miles  of  earth  now  laid  bare.  Trav 
ersing  the  peninsula,  they  entered  the  royal 
residence  of  Iztapalapan,  a  place  containing  twelve 
or  fifteen  thousand  houses,  governed  by  the  em 
peror's  brother  Cuitlahua.  Cortez,  Estevan,  and  all 


158  ESTEVAN. 

the  cavaliers,  were  here  received  with  pomp  and 
ceremony  in  one  of  the  great  halls  of  the  palace, 
and  presents  of  gold  and  delicate  stuffs  were  made 
to  the  invaders.  The  excellence  of  the  architecture 
excited  the  admiration  of  the  general,  who  declared 
some  of  the  stone  buildings  equal  to  the  best  in 
Spain.  They  were  of  great  size,  with  spacious 
apartments,  and  roofs  of  odorous  cedar-wood,  while 
the  walls  were  tapestried  with  fine  cotton,  stained 
with  brilliant  colors.  Here  the  Spaniards  took  up 
quarters  for  the  night. 

"Be  on  your  guard,"  Cortez  cautioned  his 
officers.  "  We  are  not  now  among  savages,  but  in 
a  land  of  civilization  where  points  ot  strategy  are 
appreciated,  and  we  are  about  to  enter  the  capital 
of  a  monarch  who,  we  have  abundant  reason  to 
know,  regards  us  with  distrust  and  aversion.  Be 
vigilant,  and  the  golden  prize  I  promised  in  the 
beginning  will  be  ours  before  another  sun  has  set." 

The  capital,  distinctly  visible  from  their  present 
quarters,  was  but  a  few  miles  distant,  and  as  its 
long  lines  of  glittering  edifices,  struck  by  the  rays 
of  the  evening  sun,  trembled  on  the  dark  blue 
waters,  it  looked  like  a  thing  of  fairy  creation 
rather  than  the  work  of  mortal  hands. 

Next  morning  was  the  memorable  eighth  of 
November,  1519,  a  day  made  conspicuous  in 
history  by  the  Europeans  setting  foot  for  the  first 


159 

time  in  the  capital  of  the  western  world.  With 
the  first  faint  streak  of  dawn,  Cortez  was  astir, 
mustering  his  followers.  As  the  trumpet  sent  forth 
its  stirring  sounds  across  water  and  woodland  till 
they  died  away  in  distant  echoes  among  the  moun 
tains,  the  men  gathered  with  beating  hearts  under 
their  respective  banners.  Through  the  gray  twilight 
of  early  morning  could  be  seen  the  sacred  flames 
on  the  altars  of  numberless  teocallis,  indicating 
the  site  of  the  capital.  As  it  grew  lighter,  temple, 
tower,  and  palace  were  revealed  in  the  glorious 
illumination  of  the  sun. 

The  conqueror  with  his  little  body  of  horse 
formed  an  advance  guard  to  the  army.  Cortez, 
mounted  upon  a  snow-white  horse,  led  the  van, 
while  Estevan,  mounted  on  a  jet-black  steed  richly 
caparisoned,  led  the  second  file  of  cavalry.  Behind 
the  cavalry  came  the  Spanish  infantry  with  the 
discipline  and  weather  beaten  aspect  of  veterans. 
The  baggage  occupied  the  centre,  and  the  rear  was 
closed  by  the  undisciplined  Tlascalan  warriors,  who 
had  first  resisted  and  then  joined  the  conquerors. 
The  entire  army  was  less  than  seven  thousand, 
while  the  Spaniards  did  not  number  four  hundred. 

As  they  advanced,  the  Spaniards  were  more 
than  ever  lost  in  admiration  of  the  mechanical 
science  of  the  Aztecs,  the  geometrical  precision 
with  which  the  work  was  executed,  as  well  as  the 


160  ESTEVAN. 

solidity  of  its  construction.  Large  towns,  resting 
on  piles,  and  reaching  far  out  into  the  water,  were 
to  be  seen  on  every  side.  Everywhere  were 
evidences  of  a  crowded  and  thriving  population. 
The  temples  and  principal  buildings  were  covered- 
with  a  hard  white  stucco,  which  glistened  like 
enamel  in  the  level  beams  of  the  morning  sun.  The 
waters  were  darkened  by  swarms  of  canoes,  filled 
with  Indians,  who  clambered  up  the  sides  of  the 
causeway  and  gazed  with  curious  astonishment  at 
the  strangers.  Fairy  islands  of  flowers,  occasionally 
overshadowed  by  trees  of  considerable  size,  rose 
and  fell  with  the  gentle  undulation  of  the  waves. 

About  one  mile  and  a  half  from  the  capital,  theyi 
came  upon  the  solid  wall  of  stone,  twelve  feet  high, 
which  traversed  the  dike.  It  was  strengthened  at 
the  extremities  by  towers,  while  in  the  centre  was 
a  ponderous  gateway,  opened  for  the  passage  of 
the  troops,  Several  hundred  chiefs  were  here  to 
welcome  the  white  strangers  to  Mexico  and  to  an 
nounce  the  approach  of  Montezuma.  The  army 
experienced  no  further  interruption  until  it  reached 
the  bridge  near  the  gates  of  the  city.  It  was  built 
of  wood  and  thrown  across  an  opening  of  the  dike. 
The  structure  was  a  drawbridge,  and,  as  they 
crossed  it,  the  Spaniards  felt  how  thoroughly  they 
were  committing  themselves  to  the  mercy  of  Monte 
zuma,  who,  by  thus  cutting  off  their  communica- 


THE   GOLDEN   CONQUEST.  161 

tion  with  the  outside  world,  might  hold  them 
prisoners  in  his  capital.  The  drawbridge  was 
crossed,  and  the  army  boldly  advanced  up  the 
main  street  of  this  wonderful  city,  the  fair  Cathay 
of  the  unknown  world. 

"Close  up  the  files,  Estevan,"  said  Cortez. 
"  We  are  in  the  imperial  city  now,  with  a  treacher 
ous  enemy  on  every  side,  and  we  must  present  a 
solid  phalanx." 

"Can  the  Tlascalans  be  depended  on?"  asked 
Estevan. 

"They  can.  The  national  hatred  they  bear  the 
Aztecs  makes  them  our  friends.  Capture  with 
them  means  death.  Be  watchful  and  keep  a  sharp 
lookout  for  treachery.  Montezuma  is  a  cunning 
warrior,  and  his  boasted  friendship  may  be  an 
artful  dodge  to  get  us  in  his  power.  But  be 
vigilant  and  brave  and  all  this  countless  wealth  will 
be  ours." 

In  the  midst  of  these  unpleasant  reflections  they 
beheld  the  glittering  retinue  of  the  emperor  emerg 
ing  from  the  great  street  which  led  through  the 
heart  of  the  city.  Amid  a  crowd  of  Indian  nobles, 
preceded  by  three  officers  of  state  bearing  golden 
wands,  came  the  royal  palanquin  blazing  with 
burnished  gold.  It  was  borne  on  the  shoulders  of 
nobles,  and  over  it  a  canopy  of  gaudy  feather- 
work,  powdered  with  jewels  and  fringed  with  sil- 
11 


162  ESTEVAN. 

ver,  was  supported  by  four  attendants  of  the  same 
rank.  They  were  barefooted  and  walked  with  slow, 
measured  steps,  their  eyes  on  the  ground.  When 
the  train  came  within  a  convenient  distance,  "it- 
halted,  and  Montezuma,  descending  from  his  palan 
quin,  and  leaning  on  the  arms  of  his  brother  and 
nephew,  advanced  to  meet  the  new -corners. 

As  the  monarch  walked  under  the  canopy,  at 
tendants  covered  the  ground  with  cotton  tapestry, 
that  his  imperial  feet  might  be  uncontaminated  with 
the  soil.  His  subjects,  high  and  low,  bowed  their 
heads  as  he  passed,  many  of  the  humbler  class  pros 
trating  themselves  before  him.  The  homage  paid 
this  Indian  despot  equalled  the  slavish  forms  of 
Oriental  adulation  of  the  period. 

Estevan,  who  had  heard  much  of  the  superior 
qualities  of  this  emperor,  was  naturally  very  curi 
ous  to  see  what  he  was  like.  He  now  beheld  a 
tall,  thin  man  of  about  forty  years  of  age,  with 
short  black  hair,  a  thin,  dark  beard,  a  complexion 
much  paler  than  was  usually  found  in  the  copper- 
colored  race,  and  features  serious  without  being 
melancholy.  He  wore  the  girdle  and  ample, 
square  cloak,  lilmatli,  of  his  nation.  It  was  made 
of  the  finest  cotton,  with  embroidered  ends  gathered 
in  a  knot  round  his  neck.  He  wore  sandals  with 
soles  of  gold  on  his  feet,  and  the  leathern  thongs 
which  bound  them  were  embossed  with  the  same 


THE   GOLDEN   CONQUEST.  163 

metal.  Both  cloak  and  sandals  were  sprinkled 
with  pearls,  among  which  the  emerald  and  the 
chalchivitl — a  green  stone  of  higher  estimation  than 
any  other  among  the  Aztecs — were  conspicuous. 
On  his  head  he  wore  no  other  ornament  than  a 
panache  of  plumes  of  royal  green,  which  floated 
down  his  back,  the  badge  of  military  rather  than 
legal  rank.  He  moved  with  dignity,  and  his  whole 
demeanor  was  worthy  of  a  great  prince. 

Dismounting,  Cortez  threw  his  rein  to  an  attend 
ant,  and  called  on  Estevan  and  Marina  to  accom 
pany  him. 

"General,  had  you  not  better  bring  a  few  of  the 
cavaliers  to  more  fully  impress  the  emperor  with 
your  power?"  suggested  Estevan. 

"I  will,"  Cortez  answered,  and  he  added  a  few 
of  his  principal  cavaliers  to  the  list. 

As  they  advanced,  Montezuma  paused,  his  heart 
almost  ceasing  to  beat,  while  his  breath  came  hard, 
for  he  saw  in  this  conqueror  the  strange  being  whose 
history  was  shadowed  forth  in  one  of  his  oracles, 
and  whose  achievements  proclaimed  him  something 
more  than  human. 

After  a  moment's  pause,  Montezuma  advanced 
and  received  his  guest  with  princely  courtesy. 

"I  am  very  much  gratified,"  he  said,  "to  see  so 
great  a  man  as  General  Cortez  in  Mexico,  and  to 
welcome  him  to  my  capital." 


164  ESTEVAN. 

"  I  have  come  to  thank  you,  in  the  name  of  my 
king,"  answered  Cortez,  "for  the  many  gifts  you 
have  bestowed  upon  his  subjects,  and  to  behold 
with  my  own  eyes  the  greatness  of  Montezuma, 
well  as  to  give  you  substantial  proof  of  the  respect 
and  love  of  my  king  for  the  emperor  of  this  new 
world." 

He  hung  a  chain  of  colored  crystals  about  the 
neck  of  the  emperor,  and  was  about  to  embrace 
him,  when  he  was  restrained  by  the  two  Aztec 
lords,  who  wrere  shocked  at  the  attempt  to  pollute 
the  sacred  person  of  their  emperor  by  personal 
contact. 

Montezuma  seemed  greatly  pleased  with  the  glit 
tering  ornament  hanging  about  his  neck,  little 
dreaming  that  it  was  to  become  the  clanking  chain 
of  a  despotic  conqueror.  From  that  moment 
Montezuma  was,  in  fact,  a  prisoner  and  his  empire 
conquered.  The  pale  strangers  from  an  unknown 
land  had  planted  themselves  in  the  heart  of  his  im 
perial  city,  and  would  not  be  ejected.  He  who 
had  been  a  stern,  daring  soldier  in  other  wars  had, 
with  this  strange,  new  enemy,  proved  to  be  weak 
and  unworthy  the  name  he  had  won.  But  Monte 
zuma  was  a  fatalist,  and,  believing  from  the  first 
that  his  empire  was  to  be  overthrown  by  the  in 
vaders,  dared  not  resist  them. 


CHAPTEE   XT. 

MATCHLOCKS    IN   THE   AIR. 

DAY  by  day,  as  reports  of  the  success  of  Cortez 
reached  Velasquez,  he  grew  more  and  more  desper 
ate.  He  had  declared  the  conqueror  a  rebel,  and 
so  reported  him  to  the  king. 

''He  shall  hang  to  the  highest  mast  on  his  ship!" 
exclaimed  Velasquez,  on  learning  of  his  triumph 
ant  march  through  the  land  of  the  Atecs. 

"He  has  anticipated  you,  good  master,"  said 
Gerund,  who  heard  the  governor's  remark. 

"What  mean  you,  rogue?"  demanded  the 
governor. 

"  Surely  you  will  not  hang  him  to  the  tallest 
mast  of  his  ship,  since  he  has  destroyed  his  fleet." 

"  Never  mind,  Gerund,  we  will  hang  him  to 
some  other  ship  then." 

"There  is  catching,  first,  my  lord." 

"Who  says  we  won't  catch  him?" 

"  Not  I;  yet  the  king  may  object." 

"Why  should  the  king    object,   since  he  is  a 
rebel  against  the  crown?" 
165 


166  E8TEVAN. 

Gerund  made  one  of  his  comical  grimaces. 

"My  lord,  there  is  no  knowing  who  is  nearest 
the  throne,"  he  answered.  "Put  not  your  trust  in 
princes.  Cortez  has  sent  embassadors  to  Spain.." 

"What  if  he  has?     Have  not  I  done  the  same?" 

"But,  with  his  embassadors,  Cortez  sent  great 
treasures  of  gold  and  precious  stones,  and  I  have 
been  told  that  even  the  good  king,  like  other 
Spaniards,  is  afflicted  with  a  disease  of  the  heart 
which  naught  save  gold  will  cure." 

"What  the  knave  says  has  truth  in  it,"  said  the 
governor.  At  this  moment  the  very  man  above  all 
others  whom  he  wished  to  see,  Panfilo  de  Narvaez, 
entered  the  room. 

"  I  am  glad  you  have  come,  Narvaez,  for  I  wish 
to  consult  with  you  on  a  matter  of  great  moment. 
Gerund,  leave  us." 

"Don't  make  the  stew  so  hot  it  will  burn  your 
lips,"  laughed  the  jester  on  quitting  the  room. 

"  The  rascal  has  more  wisdom  than  he  gets  credit 
for, "  said  the  governor.  "  But  to  business,  Narvaez. 
You  have  heard  of  the  rebel  Cortez?" 

"Have  you  heard  from  your  embassadors?" 

"No." 

"Cortez,  having  conquered  the  richest  nation  in 
the  world,  has  sent  embassadors  to  Spain  loaded 
with  treasure  to  buy  a  good  opinion  of  himself." 

"I  have  feared  as  much,"  returned  Velasquez. 


MATCHLOCKS   IN   THE   AIR.  167 

"Report  says  that  he  lias  Montezuma  a  prisoner 
in  his  own  city,  and  something  must  be  done, 
governor,  or  all  the  glory  and  renown  of  this  con 
quest  will  belong  to  Cortez." 

"What  can  be  done?" 

"You  have  power  to  send  and  bring  the  rebel 
back." 

"Whom  shall  I  send?" 

"Send  me." 

"Would  you  go?" 

"That  I  would." 

The  governor  rose  and,  grasping  his  hand,  gazed 
a  moment  into  his  face  to  make  sure  he  was  in 
earnest. 

"Narvaez,  you  are  the  very  man  T  would  have 
chosen,"  he  declared,  "and  I  only  await  authority 
from  Spain  to  raise  an  army 

"Why  wait,  governor,  when  you  may  take 
measures  for  redress  in  your  own  hand.  The 
week  Cortez  sailed,  a  capitulation  was  signed  by 
Charles  V. ,  conferring  on  you  the  title  of  Adelan- 
tado,  with  great  augmentation  of  your  original 
powers.  Do  not  hesitate  to  send  such  a  force  to 
Mexico  as  will  enable  you  to  assert  your  new  au 
thority,  and  take  vengeance  on  your  rebellious 
officer." 

Velasquez,  deeply  moved  by  the  reports  of 
treasure  sent  by  Cortez  to  Spain,  was  m  the  mood 


168  ESTEVAN. 

for  such  advice.  Eage,  mortification,  disappoint 
ment,  and  avarice  distracted  his  mind.  He  could 
not  forgive  himself  for  trusting  the  conquest  to  such 
hands.  The  governor,  who  was  a  very  corpulent 
man,  rose  and  paced  the  floor  for  several  moments, 
his  florid  face  flushed  with  excitement  and  rage. 

"  I  cannot  go  myself,"  he  panted.  "  I  am  too  fat 
to  endure  the  hardships  incident  to  such  an  ex 
pedition,  and  besides,  my  tenderness  for  my 
Indian  subjects,  who  are  wasting  away  with  this 
epidemic,  forbids  that  I  should  leave  Cuba.  You 
must  relieve  me  at  this  trying  hour  and  take  the 
command." 

Narvaez,  who  had  longed  for  an  opportunity  to 
distinguish  himself,  did  not  hesitate.  The  com 
pact  was  made  at  once,  and,  exercising  his  new 
authority,  Velasquez  commissioned  Narvaez  to 
command  the  expedition.  The  governor  and  his 
lieutenant  were  unwearied  in  their  efforts  to  assem 
ble  an  army.  They  visited  every  considerable 
town  in  the  island,  fitting  out  vessels,  laying  in 
stores  and  ammunition,  and  encouraging  volunteers 
to  enlist. 

Of  course  Christina  and  her  son  learned  of  these 
efforts,  and  were  alarmed  at  the  formidable  expedi 
tion  which  threatened  the  death  of  the  husband 
and  father.  One  day  the  lad  was  accosted  by 
Narvaez  himself  in  St.  Jago. 


MATCHLOCKS   IN   THE  AIR.  169 

"Do  you  know  why  all  these  preparations  are 
being  made?"  the  general  asked. 

"Yes,  for  a  failure." 

"No,  we  are  going  to  hang  the  rebel  Cortez, 
and  your  father  to  the  same  mast." 

"Have  a  care,  lieutenant,  that  you  do  not  come 
back  the  worse  for  having  met  my  father." 

"Your  father?  Do  you  imagine  that  I  fear 
him?" 

"I  know  that  you  do  not;  but  I  am  quite  certain 
he  has  no  fears  of  }'ou,  and  would  advise  you  to 
have  a  care,  as  you  may  not  return  as  well  in  body 
and  mind  as  you  go." 

Gerund,  who  was  near  enough  to  overhear  the 
boy,  put  in: 

"  'Tis  an  old  saying  I  learned  in  my  youth 
That  fools  and  children  speak  the  truth. " 

Narvaez  was  more  annoyed  than  he  would  have 
admitted,  though  he  continued  his  efforts  to  raise 
an  army  and  fleet  suitable  for  the  expedition.  The 
report  of  these  proceedings  soon  spread  through 
the  islands,  and  drew  the  attention  of  the  Royal 
Audience  of  San  Domingo.  This  body  was,  at 
that  time,  intrusted  not  only  with  the  highest 
judicial  authority  in  the  colonies,  but  with  a  civil 
jurisdiction,  which,  as  "the  admiral"  complained, 
encroached  on  his  own  rights.  The  tribunal  saw 


170  ESTEVAN. 

with  alarm  the  proposed  expedition  of  Velasquez, 
which,  whatever  might  be  its  issue  in  regard  to  the 
parties,  could  not  fail  to  compromise  the  interests 
of  the  crown.  Accordingly,  one  of  their  number 
was  chosen,  a  licentiate  named  Ayllon,  a  man  noted 
for  prudence  and  resolution,  and  dispatched  to 
Cuba  with  instructions  to  interpose  his  authority 
and  prevent,  if  possible,  the  sailing  of  the  expedi 
tion.  But  Ayllon  found  that  the  flame  had  been 
fanned  too  long  and  the  fire  had  gained  too  much 
headway  for  him  to  extinguish  it.  He  accompanied 
the  fleet  of  eighteen  sail,  but  before  he  had  gone 
far  he  was  arrested  and  sent  back  in  a  ship  to  Cuba, 
though  he  prevailed  on  the  captain  to  land  him  at 
San  Domingo. 

"I  will  hang  the  rebel  Cortez,"  Narvaez  de 
clared;  "all  the  licentiates  in  Hispaniola  cannot 
prevent  me." 

On  the  23d  of  April,  1520,  the  hostile  fleet  an 
chored  off  San  Juan  de  Ulua,  the  spot  where  Cortez 
first  landed  on  the  sandy  waste  now  covered  by  the 
city  of  Vera  Cruz.  From  a  Mexican,  taken  on 
board  his  ship,  Narvaez  gathered  the  particulars  of 
all  that  had  occurred  since  the  departure  of  the 
envoys  from  Vera  Cruz,  including  the  march  into 
the  mountain,  the  bloody  battles  with  the  Tlasca- 
lans,  the  occupation  of  Mexico,  the  rich  treasures 
found  in  it,  and  the  seizure  of  Montezuma. 


MATCHLOCKS   IN    THE   AIR.  171 

"Who  rules  the  country?"  asked  Narvaez. 

"Cortex,  rules  the  land  like  its  own  sovereign, 
so  that  a  Spaniard  may  travel  unarmed  from  one 
end  of  the  country  to  the  other  without  insult  or 
injury." 

Sandoval,  a  Spaniard  left  in  charge  of  the  post 
at  La  Villa  Rica,  had  his  suspicions  aroused  by  the 
movements  of  Narvaez,  and  hurried  messengers  to 
the  city  of  Mexico  to  warn  Cortez.  He  then  put 
his  fort  in  the  best  possible  state  of  defence.  He 
even  captured  a  priest,  a  notary,  and  four  Spaniards 
sent  to  demand  his  capitulation,  and,  binding  them, 
sent  them  hurriedly  to  Cortez  at  Mexico. 

At  the  capital  all  was  going  well  for  Cortez. 
Montezuma  had  been  induced  to  place  himself 
under  the  protection  of  the  Spaniards,  practically 
their  prisoner.  The  stern  conqueror  had  checked 
every  murmur  of  discontent  on  the  part  of  the 
Mexicans.  He  was  surrounded  by  every  ease  and 
luxury  a  monarch  could  desire,  and,  basking  in 
the  smiles  of  Marina,  he  forgot  the  wife  at  home. 

Just  when  he  seemed  most  secure,  messengers 
from  Sandoval  at  La  Villa  Rica  arrived  bringing 
information  of  the  fleet  of  Narvaez.  This  alarming 
intelligence  was  at  first  confided  to  Marina  and 
Estevan. 

"What  think  you  of  the  situation?"  he  asked. 

"  You  should  return  to  the  coast  without  delay, 


172  ESTEVAN. 

and  strike  a  blow  at  the  invaders,"  Estevan  an 
swered. 

"You  have  excellent  ideas  of  military  move 
ments,  friend  Estevan.  To  hesitate  is  fatal,  and 
I  shall  take  immediate  action." 

A  soldier  came  and  announced  the  arrival  of  a 
party  from  La  Villa  Rica  with  the  priest,  notary 
and  four  soldiers. 

"Bring  them  to  me,"  said  Cortez,  in  no  very 
amiable  mood. 

The  captives  were  brought  to  the  conqueror,  who 
received  them  with  marked  courtesy,  apologized 
for  the  rude  conduct  of  his  companions,  and  loaded 
them  with  presents,  and  by  his  most  assiduous 
attentions  soothed  the  irritation  of  their  minds. 
When  the  priest  Guevara  was  completely  won  over 
to  him,  he  proceeded  to  draw  from  him  many  im 
portant  particulars. 

"What  are  the  designs  of  Narvaez?"  he  asked. 

"  To  capture  you  and  take  you  to  Cuba  for  trial." 

"On  what  charge?" 

"Treason  and  rebellion." 

"What  are  the  feelings  of  the  soldiers?" 

"The  soldiers  in  general,  so  far  from  desiring 
a  rupture  with  your  army,  would  willingly  co-ope 
rate  with  you,  were  it  not  for  their  commander. 
They  have  no  feelings  of  resentment  to  gratify. 
Their  object  is  gold." 


MATCHLOCKS   IN   THE  AIR.  173 

"Is  Narvaez  very  popular  among  his  men?" 

"  His  personal  influence  is  not  very  great,  and 
his  arrogance  and  temper  have  already  gone  far  to 
alienate  him  from  the  affections  of  his  men." 

When  alone  Cortez  smiled  shrewdly.  He  had 
gamed  the  very  information  he  wished.  He  dis 
missed  the  prisoners  with  a  letter  to  Narvaez  be 
seeching  him  not  to  proclaim  their  animosity  to  the 
wTorld,  as  it  would  enkindle  a  spirit  of  insubordina 
tion  among  the  natives,  and  prove  fatal  to  both. 

"I  am  ready  to  greet  Narvaez  as  a  brother  in 
arms,"  he  added,  "to  share  the  fruits  of  conquest 
with  him,  and  if  he  will  produce  a  royal  commis 
sion,  to  submit  to  his  authority." 

The  conqueror  well  knew  that  Narvaez  had  no 
such  commission  to  produce.  He  dispatched  an 
envoy  in  the  person  of  Father  Olmedo  to  confer 
with  Narvaez. 

Neither  epistle  nor  envoy  had  any  effect  to  re 
tard  Narvaez.  He  declared  his  intention  to  appre 
hend  Cortez  as  a  traitor,  and  release  Montezuma. 
This  unwise  declaration  made  him  no  friends 
among  the  tribes  of  Mexicans  hostile  to  Montezuma. 
Sandoval,  who  was  still  at  La  Yilla  Rica,  kept  Cortez 
posted  of  the  movements  of  his  enemies. 

"The  time  for  action  has  come, "Cortez  declared, 
on  learning  from  Father  Olmedo  that  his  letter  of 
conciliation  was  received  in  anger  by  Narvaez, 


174 

who  gave  way  to  tho  most  opprobrious  invectives 
against  his  rival.  "Art1  the  soldiers  as  full  of 
wrath  as  their  general,  Father  Olmedo?" 

"The  rank  and  file  desire  no  collision,"  the 
priest  answered,  "Ouo  Mustering  captain.  Salva- 
tiorra,  ojvuly  avowed  his  intention  to  out  off  the 
rebel's  ear?  and  broil  them  for  his  breakfast.  His 
soldiers  are  more  ready  to  support  Cortex  than 


Cortez  was  aotive  fn^tu  the  first.  Shortly  before 
the  ap{>earanoe  of  N"arvae^  »>tt  the  vnvvst,  he  had 
sent  Yelasquoa  do  Leon,  a  trusted  captain,  with 
one  hundred  and  fifty  men  to  plant  a  oolony  on  one 
of  the  great  rivers  emptying  into  the  Mexican 
Gulf.  Though  Velasquei  was  a  kinsman  of  the 
gvn  eruor  of  Cutxv,  he  was  a  true  friend  of  Cortex. 
The  general  dispatched  a  messenger  to  him  to 
acquaint  him  of  the  landing  of  Narvao*,  that  he 
might  arrest  the  advance  of  the  invader.  Vo- 
lasquos  had  already  Kvu  imjwrtuued  by  Is'ar- 
vae^  to  desert  his  general  and  enroll  under  the 
banner  of  Cuba,  This  he  declined  to  do  and  was 
marching  toward  the  city  of  Mexico  when  the 
general's  messenger  met  him  with  orders  to  \\.-vit  at 
Cholula.  Cortex  determined  to  head  the  army 
against  Xarvae^  himself.  He  left  Pedro  do  Alva- 
rado  in  command  at  Mexico  with  one  hundred 
and  forty  men,  two-thirds  of  his  whole  force,  all  the 


MATCHLOCKS    IN  TlIK   Alii.  m 

artillery,  the  greater  part  of  tin-  little  body  of  horse, 
;IIM|  mo*t  of  the  arquebusiers.  With  Estevan,  ami 
only  seventy  men,  he  began  a  rapid  and  unex- 
pected  march  toward  the  gulf.  Everthing  depended 
on  celerity  of  movement,  and  the  Spaniard*  were 
a*  little  encumbered  a*  possible. 

Cortex  dispatched  other  envoys  to  Narvaex,  more 
to  throw  him  off  hi*  guard  than  with  any  hope  of 
arriving  at  a  better  understanding .  A*  he  pressed 
on  to  the  coast  with  all  possible  speed,  he  gathered 
up  scattered  force*  here  and  there,  augmenting 
hi*  strength  by  Indian  allies,  The  army  marched 
hurriedly  across  the  level  plain*  of  Tierra.  Calient*1, 
on  which  nature  ha*  exhausted  the  wonder*  of 
creation.  For  rno*t  of  the  distance  the  march  wa* 
through  mud  and  rain,  and  the  soldier*,  illy  pre 
pared  for  tin*  hardship,  suffered  riot  a  little.  On 
reaching  the  Ftio  de  Carious,  or  "  Ftiver  of  Canoes," 
they  found  the  inconsiderable  stream,  swollen  to  u 
torrent.  Atone  moment  the  rain  poured  in  floods, 
and  an  hour  later  a  tropical  sun  from  a  cloudless 
sky  steamed  their  soaked  clothing,  only  to  be 
followed  by  another  rain,  thus  alternating  heat  and 
moisture.  After  sunset  the  clouds  became  broken, 
and  the  sky  appeared  for  a  few  moment*  in  patches, 
studded  with  star*.  The  river  was  only  a  league 
from  the  carnp  of  Narvaex,  and,  before  seeking  an 
available  ford  for  crossing,  Cortex  allowed  hit*  men 


176  ESTEVAN. 

to  regain  their  exhausted  strength  by  stretching 
themselves  on  the  wet  ground.  The  shades  of 
evening  gathered  and  the  rising  moon,  wading 
through  dark  masses  of  clouds,  shone  with  doubtf  u4 
and  interrupted  light  on  the  miserable  little  army. 

A  distant  peal  of  thunder  rolled  along  the  sky. 

"The  storm  will  be  on  us  again,"  said  Cortez, 
turning  to  Estevan,  "and  I  do  not  regret  it,  for 
we  shall  make  the  assault  this  very  night.  In  the 
darkness  and  uproar  of  the  tempest  our  movements 
will  be  effectually  concealed." 

Although  he  had  given  his  trusted  friend  an  idea 
of  his  plan,  he  had  not  yet  disclosed  it  to  his  men. 
But  as  soon  as  it  was  quite  dark,  and  he  was  \vell 
assured  that  the  retreating  tempest  had  rallied  to 
renew  the  attack,  he  called  his  men  about  him  and 
began  one  of  those  stirring  harrangues  with  which 
he  was  wont  to  greet  them  before  a  desperate  en 
gagement, 

"Faithful  heroes  of  many  hard-fought  battles,  it 
is  well  to  sound  the  depths  of  your  hearts,  and  if 
any  falter,  to  reanimate  your  heroic  spirits.  I  left 
Cuba  duly  commissioned  for  this  conquest,  and  I 
have  since,  by  the  municipal  authority,  which  is 
next  to  the  crown,  been  elected  general  and  governor 
of  the  country.  'I  came,  I  saw,  I  conquered,' 
while  my  avaricious  enemies  at  Cuba  envied  and 
feared  to  do  what  we  have  done.  We  invaded  the 


MATCHLOCKS   IN  THE  AIR.  177 

enemies'  country,  braved  dangers,  surmounted 
difficulties,  and  gained  victories  against  the  most 
appalling  odds  ever  known  in  the  world's  history. 
The  treasure  in  gold,  silver,  and  precious  stones 
which  has  fallen  to  each  man  is  fabulous.  Of  this 
they  seek  now  to  defraud  us.  Not  holding  legal 
authority  from  the  crown,  they  are  but  a  band  of 
adventurers  with  no  title  other  than  force.  We 
have  established  a  claim  on  the  gratitude  of  our 
country  and  our  sovereign,  This  claim  is  now  to 
be  dishonored,  our  very  services  converted  into 
crimes,  and  our  names  branded  as  traitors.  But  the 
time  has  come  for  vengeance.  God  will  not  desert 
the  soldier  of  the  Cross.  Those  whom  He  has 
carried  victorious  through  greater  dangers  will  not 
be  abandoned  in  this  last  great  trying  ordeal  Fail ! 
Shall  we,  who  never  knew  failure,  fail  now?  And, 
if  we  should  fail,  better  die  like  brave  men  on  the 
battle-field,  than,  with  fame  and  fortune  in  our 
grasp,  be  cast  away,  to  perish  ignominiously  like 
slaves  on  the  gibbet." 

"If  we  fail  it  shall  be  no  fault  of  ours!"  cried 
Estevan  and  Yelasquez. 

"It  is  my  purpose,"  Cortez  resumed,  "to  attack 
the  enemy  this  very  night,  while  they  are  buried  in 
slumber,  and  the  friendly  darkness  throws  a  veil 
over  our  movements,  charitably  concealing  the 
poverty  of  our  numbers." 
12 


178  ESTEVAN. 

At  this  the  troops,  though  jaded  with  tiresome 
marches,  gave  a  joyful  shout  of  approval. 

"Lead  us  on  to  battle — lead  us  wherever  you 
will!"  they  cried. 

Meanwhile,  Narvaez  had  remained  at  Cempoalla, 
passing  his  days  in  idle  and  frivolous  amusement. 
But  at  last,  alarmed  by  rumors  and  suggestions  of 
friends,  he  put  himself  at  the  head  of  his  troops, 
and  on  the  very  day  Cortez  arrived  at  the  .River  of 
Canoes,  Narvaez  sallied  forth  to  meet  him.  On 
reaching  the  river,  Narvaez  saw  no  sign  of  the 
enemy.  The  rain  fell  in  torrents  and  the  soldiers 
were  soon  drenched  to  the  skin. 

"Of  what  use  is  it  to  remain  here  fighting  with 
the  elements?"  said  the  general's  lieutenant. 
"There  is  no  sign  of  Cortez,  and  little  reason  to 
fear  his  approach  in  such  tempestuous  weather.  It 
will  be  wiser  for  us  to  return  to  Cempoalla;  and  in 
the  morning  we  will  be  fresh  for  action,  should 
Cortez  make  his  appearance." 

Acting  on  this  unwise  suggestion,  Narvaez  re 
turned  to  the  Indian  tov,-n,  where  he  occupied  the 
principal  teocalli.  It  consisted  of  a  stone  building 
on  the  usual  pyramidal  basis,  and  the  ascent  was 
by  a  flight  of  steep  steps  on  one  of  the  faces  of  the 
pyramid.  In  the  edifice  of  the  sanctuary  above, 
Narvaez  stationed  himself,  with  a  strong  party  of 
arquebusiers  and  crossbow-men.  Two  other  teo- 


MATCHLOCKS   IN  THE  AIR.  179 

callis  in  the  same  area  were  garrisoned  by  large 
detachments  of  infantry.  His  artillery  consisted  of 
eighteen  small  guns  posted  in  the  area  below,  and 
protected  by  the  remainder  of  the  cavalry.  Hav 
ing  thus  distributed  his  forces,  he  returned  to  his 
quarters  and  to  repose. 

In  the  mean  while,  Cortez,  having  crossed  the 
stream,  arranged  his  forces  to  the  best  advantage, 
and  gave  the  last  word  of  advice  before  the  battle 
began. 

"  Everything  depends  on  obedience.  Let  no  man, 
from  desire  to  distinguish  himself,  break  ranks. 
On  silence,  dispatch,  and,  above  all,  obedience  to 
your  officers,  the  success  of  our  enterprise  depends. " 

Silently  and  swiftly  they  moved  to  the  teocalli. 
They  came  on  two  sentries,  one  of  whom  made  his 
escape.  Cortez,  not  doubting  that  the  sentinel's  re 
port  would  alarm  the  enemy's  camp,  quickened  his 
pace.  As  they  approached,  he  discerned  a  light  in 
one  of  the  lofty  towers  of  the  city. 

"There  are  the  quarters  of  Narvaez,"  he  ex 
claimed  to  Sandoval,  "and  let  the  light  be  your 
beacon!" 

On  entering  the  suburbs,  they  were  surprised  to 
find  no  one  stirring  and  no  symptoms  of  alarm; 
but,  stealthily  as  they  moved,  they  were  soon  heard 
by  sentries,  who  hastened  to  Narvaez  with  the 
alarming  cry: 


180  ESTEVAN.  . 

"Cortez!      Cortez!" 

Narvaez  buckled  on  his  armor  and  summoned 
his  men  to  battle.      All  this  was  the  work  of  a  few 
minutes,  but  in  those  few  minutes  the  Spaniards 
had  reached  the    avenue   leading  to  the  enemy's"*- 
camp. 

"Keep  close  to  the  walls  of  the  building,"  com 
manded  Cortez,  that  the  cannon-shot  might  pass 
between  the  two  files.  The  artillery  thundered 
forth  its  death-notes,  but  the  guns  were  aimed  too 
high,  and  only  three  men  were  struck  down. 

"  Espiritu  Santo !  Espiritu  Santo !  Upon  them ! " 
cried  Cortez,  and  in  a  moment  Olid  and  his  divis 
ion  rushed  on  the  artillerymen,  whom  they  knocked  '• 
down  or  ran  through  with  pikes,  and  got  posses 
sion  of  the  guns.  Another  division  engaged  the 
cavalry  and  made  a  diversion  in  favor  of  Estevan 
and  Sandoval,  who,  with  their  followers,  sprang 
up  the  great  stairway  of  the  temple.  They  were 
received  by  a  shower  of  bullets  and  arrows. 

The  uproar  of  battle  startled  from  their  slumbers 
on  the  walls  numerous  cocuyos,  a  species  of  large 
beetle  which  emits  an  intense  phosphoric  light  from 
its  body,  strong  enough  to  enable  one  to  read  by 
it.  Seeing  these  wandering  fires  in  the  air  and 
being  unacquainted  with  their  causes,  the  followers 
of  Narvaez  were  overcome  with  terror. 

"See  the  matchlocks  in  the   air!"  they    cried. 


MATCHLOCKS   IN  THE  AIR.  181 

"  The  matchlocks  in  the  air !     We  are  overwhelmed 
with  a  powerful  army!" 


"  SANTA  MARIA  1   I  AM  SLAIN  !  " 

Narvaez  heard   the   cry,   but  fought  with  un 
daunted  courage.     Estevan  and  Sand  oval  gained  the 


182  ESTEVAN. 

platform  and  engaged  the  foes  in  a  hand-to-hand 
fight.  The  standard-bearer  of  Narvaez  was  run 
through  and  fell  dead  at  his  feet.  Narvaez  received 
several  wounds,  for  his  short  sword  was  no  match 
against  the  long  pikes  of  his  assailants.  At  last 
Estevan,  aiming  a  thrust  at  his  face,  drove  his 
pike  through  the  bars  of  his  visor  and  into  the  left 
eye  of  the  unhappy  cavalier,  destroying  the  sight 
of  it  forever. 

"Santa  Maria!     I  am  slain!"  cried  ISTarvaez. 

"Victory!"  shouted  the  followers  of  Cortez,  and 
the  battle  was  over. 

Next  morning,  Narvaez,  Salvatierra,  and  two  or 
three  more  of  the  leaders  were  brought  before  Cor 
tez  in  chains.  It  was  a  moment  of  deep  humilia 
tion  for  the  former  commander,  in  which  the  an 
guish  of  body,  keen  as  it  was,  was  forgotten  in  that 
of  the  spirit. 

"You have  great  reason,  Seiior  Cortez,"  said  the 
discomfited  knight,  "to  thank  fortune  for  having 
given  you  the  day  so  easily,  and  put  me  in  your 
power." 

"I  have  much  to  be  thankful  for,"  the  general 
answered;  "but  as  for  my  victory  over  you,  I  es 
teem  it  as  one  of  the  least  of  my  achievements  since 
coming  into  this  country."  He  then  ordered  the 
wounds  of  the  prisoners  to  be  cared  for,  and  sent 
them  under  a  strong  guard  to  Yera  Cruz. 


CHAPTEE   XII. 

OFF    FOK    SPAIX. 

YOUNG  Estevan  and  his  mother  still  lived  at  St. 
Jago,  though  the  father,  having  excited  the  hatred 
of  the  governor,  dared  not  return.  There  were 
few  opportunities  for  acquiring  an  education  in  the 
New  World  at  this  period.  Learning  was  immured 
in  the  cloister,  and  convents  were  the  schools.  The 
priest,  in  the  New  World,  wTas  a  missionary  rather 
than  a  professor.  Las  Casas  had  undertaken  to 
teach  the  lad  some  of  the  principles  of  grammar, 
reading  and  writing;  but  it  was  the  great  desire  of 
his  mother  that  he  might  be  educated  at  Salamanca 
in  Spain. 

One  other  member  of  the  household  we  must  not 
forget;  it  is  little  Christoval,  the  child  of  Balboa. 
She  grew  more  beautiful  and  winning  every  year, 
developing  from  childhood  to  maidenhood,  fulfilling 
every  promise  of  beauty  and  grace.  Her  large, 
dark  eyes  had  about  them  a  sad  and  drooping  ex 
pression  peculiar  to  tropical  beauties.  She  was 
seldom  known  to  smile,  save  when  in  Christopher's 
183 


184  ESTEVAN. 

presence,  and  she  was  often  known  to  heave  bitter 
sighs  when  he  was  away. 

Though  he  had  grown  to  be  a  big,  stout  lad,  and 
she  was  a  coy  little  maiden,  they  still  wandered  -, 
about  the  beach  as  of  yore,  hand  in  hand.  One 
day  they  had  gone  to  their  favorite  stone  and 
seated  themselves  to  listen  to  the  wash  of  waves 
upon  the  sands. 

"Has  it  ever  occurred  to  you,  Christoval,"  he 
asked,  "that  we  are  almost  grown?" 

"No,"  she  answered  uneasily. 

"I  will  soon  be  a  man  and  you  a  woman.  We 
can  no  longer  wander  in  the  woods  in  search  of 
wild  flowers  and  birds'  nests,  nor  pick  up  shells  on 
the  sea-shore,  nor  play  with  toys  and  swings,  for 
more  serious  thoughts  must  henceforth  occupy  our 
minds.  There  are  great  things  in  store  for  both 
of  us." 

"What  are  you  going  to  do?"  she  asked,  fixing 
her  great,  sad  eyes  on  him. 

"My  plans  in  life  are  not  fully  laid.  I  want  to 
go  to  Mexico,  but  mother  has  other  views." 

"What  are  they?" 

"She  wants  to  send  me  to  Spain." 

"Far,  far  away  across  the  seas  to  the  land  from 
whence  my  father  came?" 

"Yes." 

The  girl's  hands  were  clasped  and  there  was  a 


OFF  FOR  SPAIN.  185 

slight  convulsive  twitching  of  the  fingers,  "but  by 
no  other  means  did  she  evince  the  agony  she  suf 
fered. 

"Don*t  you  want  me  to  go?"  he  asked. 

For  a  moment  she  was  strangely  silent;  then,  in 
the  mellow  tone  of  her  mother's  people,  she  an 
swered. 

"I  don't  know." 

"You  will  be  very  lonely,  Christoval?" 

"Yes,  but  what  is  the  Indian  girl,  that  you 
should  be  mindful  of  her?  Are  not  the  hearts  of 
all  my  race  breaking?" 

"You  are  also  a  Spanish  girl." 

"Nevertheless  they  would  have  made  a  slave  of 
me,  had  you  not  rescued  me  from  the  bloodhounds. 
Perhaps,  when  you  are  gone  away,  they  may  even 
yet  make  a  slave  of  me." 

Laughing  at  her  fears,  Christopher  assured  her 
that  there  was  no  further  danger.  But  the  sad  fate 
of  her  mother's  race  was  enough  to  make  Christoval 
sad,  despite  his  assurances.  Tens  of  thousands  of 
her  mother's  unfortunate  people  had  yielded  to 
slavery's  blighting  effects  and  had  gone  to  that 
mysterious  land  from  whence  there  is  no  return. 
Could  voices  come  back  from  that  echoless  shore, 
the  wailing  of  wronged  spirits  would  forever  dis 
turb  the  sleep  of  their  Spanish  butchers. 

A  gentle  breeze  blew  over  the  sea,  toying  with 


186  ESTEVAN. 

the  dark,  silken  curls  on  Christoval's  brow.  Her 
bright  eyes  had  grown  moist,  and  she  dared  not 
trust  her  voice  to  speak.  Her  early  life  had  been 
without  sunlight.  Having  the  blood  of  two  proud" 
families  in  her  veins,  her  humble  sphere  in  life 
was  more  galling  than  if  she  had  been  of  more 
lowly  birth.  Her  young  rescuer  had  ever  been  her 
chief  comforter.  At  times,  when  with  him,  the 
dark  cloud  seemed  to  lift,  and  she  was  gay  and 
laughing,  but  it  was  only  while  in  his  presence. 

"  Then  you  will  really  go  away  across  this  ocean?" 
she  said  at  last,  gazing  out  over  the  water. 

"Yes,  I  must  go  to  Salamanca." 

"With  a  sigh  she  answered,  "Well,  I  suppose  it 
is  best." 

The  sun  was  sinking  low  in  the  western  horizon. 
There  was  a  beauty  in  the  land  and  a  splendor  in 
the  sea  as  they  wandered  hand  in  hand  along  the 
pebbly  beach,  her  heart  almost  filled  to  bursting, 
yet  she  dared  not  speak.  Occasionally,  when  he 
paused  to  gaze  on  some  bird  soaring  over  the  water, 
or  to  pick  up  a  bright  shell,  he  found  the  large, 
dark  eyes  fixed  on  him  with  a  look  of  wonderful 
tenderness. 

"Christoval,  do  you  want  me  to  stay?"  he 
asked. 

"Yes,"  she  answered. 

"But  our  mother,  who  is  older  and  wiser,  says 


OFF  FOR   SPAIN.  187 

I  must  go.  If  she  thinks  it  best  to  give  up  her 
son,  you  surely  can  give  up  a  brother." 

"Yes." 

The  answer  came  after  a  few  moments  of  silence, 
and  with  some  hesitation.  It  was  not  a  cheerful 
assent,  though  she  never  afterward  expressed  any 
regret  that  he  was  going. 

Often,  after  that  day,  as  they  wandered  among 
the  orange  and  palm  groves  seeking  the  oriole  or 
parrot's  nest,  or  gathering  bright  shells  on  the  sea 
shore,  Christopher  was  inclined  to  speak  of  his  de 
parture,  but  the  sad  little  face  haunted  him,  and 
he  decided  not  to  do  so. 

One  evening,  on  their  return  home,  they  found 
the  senora  reading  a  letter. 

"Is  it  from  father?"     Christopher  asked. 

"It  is." 

"Where  is  he?" 

"Still  in  Mexico.      He  dares  not  come  home." 

"Will  he  ever  dare  return  to  Cuba?" 

"He  hopes  to  do  so  soon.  Cortez  is  going  to 
Spain  to  lay  their  case  before  the  king.  He  hopes 
matters -may  be  so  tempered  that  we  may  live  here, 
despite  the  enmity  of  Velasquez." 

"I  wish  the  king  would  remove  the  governor 
and  give  us  a  better  one." 

The  Estevans  were  soon  to  feel  the  governor's 
power  more  forcibly  than  before.  A  few  days 


188  ESTEVAN. 

later,  Christopher  was  standing  on  the  dock,  watch 
ing  a  large  ship  riding  at  anchor  in  the  bay,  when 
some  one  tapped  his  shoulder  and,  looking  about, 
he  saw  Antonio  Velasquez. 

"You  have  discovered  the  ship  in  the  harbor?" 
Antonio  said. 

"When  did  it  arrive?" 

"Last  night.      Can  you  guess  who  came  in  it?'* 

"Not  my  father?" 

Antonio  shrugged  his  shoulders,  while  his  dark 
eyes  flashed  with  fire,  and  a  strange  smile  played 
over  his  face. 

"No,  not  your  father,"  he  said.  "My  uncle 
would  like  to  have  your  father  and  the  rebel  Cortez 
in  his  power  now." 

"How  am  I  to  know  who  came  in  yonder  ship?" 

"It  was  Panfilo  de  Narvaez." 

"  The  blustering  cavalier  who  went  to  bring  back 
Cortez,"  said  Christopher.  "I'll  warrant  you  he 
came  back  worse  than  he  went." 

"I  saw  him,  and  the  poor  gentleman  is  in  a  sad 
condition." 

"He  was  wounded?" 

"Wounded,  yes.  He  was  near  to  being  slain 
in  a  combat  with  your  father.  The  unfortunate 
gentleman  lost  an  eye." 

"I  have  heard  as  much." 

"Your  father  attacked  the  governor's  lieutenant, 


OFF  FOR   SPAW.  189 

driving  the  keen  point  of  his  pike  through  the 
bars  of  his  visor  and  destroying  his  eye." 

"  Narvaez  boasted  that  he  would  hang  my  fa 
ther;  can  he  be  blamed  for  defending  himself?" 

"  Yet  it  was  a  sorry  day  when  he  wounded  the 
lieutenant.  The  governor  now  is  more  enraged 
against  Estevan  than  Cortez." 

"  Why  should  he  be?  Was  it  not  all  done  in  fair 
and  honorable  combat?" 

"Yet  the  sight  of  a  trusted  and  valuable  friend 
maimed  for  life  drove  him  to  fury.  He  has  issued 
a  special  proclamation  against  Hernando  Estevan, 
declaring  him  an  outlaw  and  traitor,  and  ordering 
that  all  his  estates  and  possessions  be  seized  and 
confiscated." 

Christopher,  at  first,  could  hardly  believe  his 
ears;  but  the  fearful  reality  forced  itself  on  him, 
when,  an  hour  later,  he  heard  the  town-crier  pro 
claiming  the  order.  Hurrying  home,  he  acquainted 
his  mother  with  the  governor's  order,  and,  together, 
they  set  out  to  a  monastery,  where  was  a  friendly 
and  powerful  priest,  to  whom  they  told  what  had 
been  done. 

"Go  to  your  homes,"  said  the  priest,  "and  I 
will  see  what  can  be  done." 

Through  the  interposition  of  the  priest  that  part 
of  the  order  confiscating  the  property  was  rescinded; 
but  Hernando  Estevan  was  still  an  outlaw. 


192  ESTEVAN. 

in  thought.  His  reflections  took  an  ill  turn  and 
he  gesticulated  angrily,  striking  his  hand  in  the 
air,  as  if  he  were  beating  back  an  invisible  foe. 
The  cavalier,  being  blind  in  one  eye,  did  not  see--_. 
Christopher,  who  passed  on  his  blind  side.  The 
fist  of  the  one-eyed  knight  shot  out  just  as  young 
Estevan  was  opposite  him,  and  sent  his  guitar 
spinning  into  the  street. 

Nothing  was  more  calculated  to  rouse  this  music- 
loving  youth,  and,  before  the  cavalier  could  realize 
what  he  had  done,  Christopher  knocked  him  down. 

As  soon  as  he  could  gain  his  feet,  the  cavalier 
drew  his  sword,  and  turned  upon  his  assailant. 

"Impudent  upstart!  what  do  you  mean?"  he 
cried. 

"You  struck  my  guitar  from  my  hand." 

"By  my  patron  saint!  I  swear  I  have  a  mind 
to  run  you  through!" 

"It  would  be  a  deed  befitting  a  gallant  cavalier, 
as  I  am  unarmed,"  was  the  ironical  response. 
"Panfilo  de  Narvaez  dares  not  fight  an  Estevan  in 
fair  combat." 

"I  recognize  you  now;  you  are  the  son  of  Her- 
nando  the  traitor." 

"You  speak  falsely,  seiior.  My  father  is  no 
traitor,  and  a  braver  man  never  lived." 

Narvaez,  though  a  man  of  violent  passions, 
nevertheless  possessed  great  pride. 


OFF  FOR   SPAIN.  193 

"  It  shall  not  be  said  that  Narvaez  struck  an  un 
armed  man,"  he  said,  putting  up  his  sword;  "but 
I  will  see  that  you  are  sent  to  join  your  rebellious 
father." 

Estevan  laughed  at  the  cavalier,  and  assured  him 
that,  before  many  days,  he  would  leave  the  island 
of  his  own  accord.  Christopher's  adventure  tended 
to  hasten  his  departure.  News  of  the  assault  on 
the  cavalier  reached  the  governor's  ears,  and  he 
determined  to  banish  Estevan.  Friends  managed 
to  get  the  order  stayed  for  a  few  days.  Meanwhile 
every  arrangement  for  the  youth's  departure  for 
Spain  was  completed. 

The  day  came,  one  of  those  lovely  tropical 
mornings.  The  sunbeams  danced  upon  the  deep 
like  smiles  on  the  face  of  a  sleeping  babe. 

The  little  bay  of  St.  Jago  was  a  scene  of  bril 
liance  and  confusion.  Early  as  it  was,  the  town 
was  alive  with  people  hurrying  hither  and  thither. 
A  ship  was  about  to  sail  for  Spain,  and  there  were 
the  usual  sounds  in  the  harbor  and  on  the  shore. 
People  about  to  depart  were  bidding  adieu  to 
those  on  shore,  and  the  joyful  expectation  of  meet 
ing  loved  ones  in  the  Old  World,  was  dampened  by 
regrets  at  leaving  dear  friends  in  the  New. 

A  little  group  stood  apart  from  the  others. 
Christopher  Estevan,  his  mother,  her  other  two 
children,  and  Christoval  Balboa  constituted  the 
13 


194  ESTEVAN 

group.  Young  Estevan  was  on  his  way  to  Sala 
manca,  the  seat  of  European  learning.  His  mother 
was  weeping,  and,  for  the  first  time  since  Fulvia 
was  torn  to  death  by  the  bloodhound,  Christoval ~ 
evinced  signs  of  grief.  Another  joined  them;  it 
was  Gerund  the  jester.  The  poor  fellow  had  for 
gotten  his  jests,  and  wept  with  the  others. 

It  was  a  sad  morning  for  Estevan,  who  felt  as  if 
he  were  really  banished  from  his  home  by  the  edict 
of  a  tyrannical  governor,  and  his  return  forbidden. 

"Don't  weep,  mother,  it  is  for  the  best,"  sighed 
Christopher. 

"It  is,  in  very  truth,  the  best,"  put  in  Gerund, 
"but,  alas,  we  do  not  always  like  the  best,"  and 
he  sobbed  louder  than  before. 

The  boat  was  ready,  and,  bidding  all  a  final 
adieu,  Estevan  sprang  into  it  and  was  rowed  away 
to  the  vessel.  They  watched  him  go  aboard,  saw 
the  anchor  hoisted,  heard  the  signal  gun,  and  then 
the  great  white  sails,  like  clouds  of  snow,  were 
spread  to  the  wind  and  the  vessel  sailed  away. 
Poor  Christoval,  unable  to  bear  up  longer,  gave 
way  to  her  first  and  only  violent  fit  of  giief.  As 
Christina  Estevan  held  the  sobbing  girl  in  her  arms, 
and  gazed  after  her  departing  son,  her  mind  went 
back  to  the  day  in  Palos,  when  she  had  seen  his 
father  sail  away  with  the  white-haired  explorer  in 
search  of  a  new  world. 


CHAPTEK  XIII. 

INEZ    OVIEDO. 

CHRISTOPHER  ESTEVAN  had  been  two  years  in 
Salamanca  when,  one  day,  he  met  Antonio  Velas 
quez.  He  afterward  learned  that  Antonio  had 
come  to  Salamanca  to  take  a  scholarship  in  the 
famous  convent,  but,  having  been  early  expelled, 
was  pursuing  his  studies  under  a  private  tutor. 
Under  the  circumstances,  the  meeting  between  the 
two  could  hardly  be  cordial.  There  was  a  sneer  on 
the  face  of  Antonio,  and  he  was  not  backward  in 
his  expressions  of  dislike  toward  Christopher. 

"You  will  not  return  to  Cuba,  I  suppose?"  he 
remarked. 

"Why  not?" 

"The  governor  has  banished  you." 

"Perchance,  before  I  am  ready  to  go  home,  the 
governor  may  be  hanged." 

"No,  he  has  strong  friends  at  court,  and  they 
will  see  that  he  suffers  not,  which  is  more  than  can 
be  said  of  your  father." 

"Yet,  under  Cortez,  he  has  given  Mexico,  with 
195 


196  ESTEVAN. 

all  the  treasures  of  the  Aztecs,  to  the  king,  and 
kings  know  valuable  friends  too  well  to  permit  them 
long  to  live  under  a  cloud.  The  failure  of  the 
Narvaez  expedition  proved  that  Cortez  was  no  or 
dinary  man." 

Eealizing  that  he  was  getting  the  worst  of  the 
debate,  Antonio  framed  an  excuse  for  going  away. 
He  hated  Estevan  so  much  that  he  wrote  a  letter  to 
the  governor  of  Cuba  setting  forth  that  Christopher 
was  devoting  his  time  and  limited  abilities  to  slan 
dering  the  governor.  The  governor  was  so  en 
raged,  that  he  offered  a  reward  for  Estevan,  dead 
or  alive,  on  the  ground  that  he  was  guilty  of  trea 
sonable  conduct.  Meanwhile,  Christopher,  heedless 
of  all  danger,  was  busily  engaged  in  his  studies, 
or  dreaming  day  dreams  of  the  future.  It  was  a 
romantic  age,  and  the  wildest  rumors  of  golden  con 
quests  came  from  the  western  to  the  eastern  conti 
nent.  The  student  caught  the  spirit  of  the  age 
and  longed  to  leave  the  cloister  for  the  battle 
field.  Exploration  and  conquest  was  the  all-ab 
sorbing  theme  of  the  day. 

Christopher  was  proficient  in  all  the  manly 
sports  and  accomplishments  of  the  day.  He  could 
ride  at  a  tourney  or  play  the  guitar  with  equal 
excellency.  His  fondness  for  travel  and  adventure 
fitted  him  to  be  an  explorer  and  an  able  compan 
ion  oi  Pizarro  and  De  Soto. 


INEZ   OVIEDO  197 

At  this  time  there  stood,  not  a  league  from  Sala 
manca,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  villages  in  all 
Spain,  situated  in  a  lovely  valley,  where  all  the 
charms  of  verdure  so  peculiar  to  the  Peninsula 
seemed  to  have  been  scattered  with  lavish  hand. 
Nothing  remains  of  the  village  to-day  save  the 
tumble-down  walls  of  a  castle  and  the  ruins  of  an 
ancient  monastery;  but  at  the  time  of  Estevan  it 
was  a  sight  bewitching  to  all  the  senses.  The  cit 
ron  and  arbutus,  growing  wild,  sheltered  every 
cottage  door,  and  the  olive  and  laurel  threw  their 
shadows  across  the  little  stream  which  traversed  the 
hamlet.  The  houses,  observing  no  uniform  ar 
rangement,  stood  wherever  the  caprice  or  incli 
nation  of  the  builder  dictated,  surrounded  by  the 
neatest  and  cosiest  of  gardens.  The  undulating 
hills,  soft  blue  skies,  and  transparent  atmosphere 
imparted  a  picturesque  feature  to  even  the  lowliest 
hut,  while  upon  the  craggy  eminence,  just  south 
of  this  lovely  village,  there  perched  a  dragon-like 
castle,  looking  silently  down  upon  the  peaceful 
hamlet  with  an  air  of  protection. 

This  retired  spot  was  one  of  the  most  quiet 
places  in  all  the  world.  The  birds  sung  all  day 
long  in  the  fulness  of  their  joy,  and  all  through 
the  Spanish  and  Moorish  wars  not  a  rude  alarm 
had  come  to  disturb  the  repose  of  the  village. 
Unmolested,  the  nightingale  at  evening  poured 


196  ESTEVAN. 

all  the  treasures  of  the  Aztecs,  to  the  king,  and 
kings  know  valuable  friends  too  well  to  permit  them 
long  to  live  under  a  cloud.  The  failure  of, the 
Narvaez  expedition  proved  that  Cortez  was  no  or 
dinary  man." 

Realizing  that  he  was  getting  the  worst  of  the 
debate,  Antonio  framed  an  excuse  for  going  away. 
He  hated  Estevan  so  much  that  he  wrote  a  letter  to 
the  governor  of  Cuba  setting  forth  that  Christopher 
was  devoting  his  time  and  limited  abilities  to  slan 
dering  the  governor.  The  governor  was  so  en 
raged,  that  he  offered  a  reward  for  Estevan,  dead 
or  alive,  on  the  ground  that  he  was  guilty  of  trea 
sonable  conduct.  Meanwhile,  Christopher,  heedless 
of  all  danger,  was  busily  engaged  in  his  studies, 
or  dreaming  day  dreams  of  the  future.  It  was  a 
romantic  age,  and  the  wildest  rumors  of  golden  con 
quests  came  from  the  western  to  the  eastern  conti 
nent.  The  student  caught  the  spirit  of  the  age 
and  longed  to  leave  the  cloister  for  the  battle 
field.  Exploration  and  conquest  was  the  all-ab 
sorbing  theme  of  the  day. 

Christopher  was  proficient  in  all  the  manly 
sports  and  accomplishments  of  the  day.  He  could 
ride  at  a  tourney  or  play  the  guitar  with  equal 
excellency.  His  fondness  for  travel  and  adventure 
fitted  him  to  be  an  explorer  and  an  able  compan 
ion  oi  Pizarro  and  De  Soto. 


INEZ   OVIEDO  197 

At  this  time  there  stood,  not  a  league  from  Sala 
manca,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  villages  in  all 
Spain,  situated  in  a  lovely  valley,  where  all  the 
charms  of  verdure  so  peculiar  to  the  Peninsula 
seemed  to  have  been  scattered  with  lavish  hand. 
Nothing  remains  of  the  village  to-day  save  the 
tumble-down  walls  of  a  castle  and  the  ruins  of  an 
ancient  monastery;  but  at  the  time  of  Estevan  it 
was  a  sight  bewitching  to  all  the  senses.  The  cit 
ron  and  arbutus,  growing  wild,  sheltered  every 
cottage  door,  and  the  olive  and  laurel  threw  their 
shadows  across  the  little  stream  which  traversed  the 
hamlet.  The  houses,  observing  no  uniform  ar 
rangement,  stood  wherever  the  caprice  or  incli 
nation  of  the  builder  dictated,  surrounded  by  the 
neatest  and  cosiest  of  gardens.  The  undulating 
hills,  soft  blue  skies,  and  transparent  atmosphere 
imparted  a  picturesque  feature  to  even  the  lowliest 
hut,  while  upon  the  craggy  eminence,  just  south 
of  this  lovely  village,  there  perched  a  dragon-like 
castle,  looking  silently  down  upon  the  peaceful 
hamlet  with  an  air  of  protection. 

This  retired  spot  was  one  of  the  most  quiet 
places  in  all  the  world.  The  birds  sung  all  day 
long  in  the  fulness  of  their  joy,  and  all  through 
the  Spanish  and  Moorish  wars  not  a  rude  alarm 
had  come  to  disturb  the  repose  of  the  village. 
Unmolested,  the  nightingale  at  evening  poured 


198  ESTEVAN. 

forth  her  song,  and  here  peasantry  and  noble  alike 
enjoyed  a  long  season  of  uninterrupted  peace. 

The  castle  was  owned  by  a  hidalgo  named  Ovi 
edo,  noted  for  his  kindness  of  heart  arid  gallantry, 
He  was  a  brother  of  the  famous  chronicler  and 
historian  who  accompanied  Ojeda  to  the  New 
World,  and  whose  faithful  account  of  many  of  the 
conquests  is  authority  to  the  present  day.  Don 
Oviedo  was  beloved  by  all  the  peasantry.  Al 
though  only  forty-five  years  of  age,  he  had  won 
distinction  in  the  wars  in  which  his  country  had 
been  involved. 

Don  Oviedo  was  a  widower,  his  wife  having  died 
in  giving  birth  to  a  daughter,  fifteen  years  before. 
Ever  since,  Oviedo  had  lived  alone  in  his  castle 
with  his  daughter  Inez,  who  had  grown  to  be  one 
of  the  most  lovely  senoritas  in  all  Spam.  Genius 
and  beauty  combined  to  make  Inez  Oviedo  one  of 
those  brilliant  characters  seen  but  once  or  twice  in 
a  life-time,  and  the  most  delicate  modesty  added  a 
wonderful  charm  to  the  rich  gifts  of  mind  and 
body. 

Naturally  the  fame  of  so  lovely  a  being  soon 
reached  the  ears  of  the  student  at  Salamanca,  and 
her  praises  aroused  within  Estevan  _i  strong  desire 
to  meet  her.  He  was  informed  one  day  by  Anto 
nio  Velasquez,  in  the  most  insinuating  way,  that 
lie  was  not  only  on  familiar  terms  with  Inez,  but 


INEZ    0 VI EDO.  199 

was  her  accepted  suitor.  Velasquez  took  pleasure 
in  descanting  on  the  matchless  beauty  and  intelli 
gence  of  the  fair  Inez. 

"If  what  you  say  be  true,  then  the  Dona  Inez 
is  far  from  perfection  in  judgment,"  retorted  Este- 
van,  who  could  scarcely  tolerate  the  fellow. 

"What  do  you  mean?"  Antonio  demanded. 

"If  she  possessed  such  wonderful  wisdom,  An 
tonio  never  would  have  been  her  choice." 

Antonio  became  enraged,  shook  his  fist  at  the 
student,  and  gave  vent  to  innumerable  rash  threats, 
to  all  of  which  Christopher  listened  with  good  hu 
mor,  never  rising  from  the  couch  on  which  he  re 
clined.  Having  exhausted  his  rage  in  empty 
threats,  Antonio  rushed  from  the  apartment. 

"A  good  riddance,"  said  Estevan,  rising  and 
tossing  aside  the  book  he  had  been  reading.  "  I 
have  said  nothing  to  regret.  If  all  he  has  said  be 
true  and  she  has  chosen  him,  Inez  Oviedo  may  be 
matchless  in  beauty  and  wisdom,  but  in  her  choice 
of  a  suitor  she  has  displayed  bad  judgment." 

One  knows  nothing  of  the  bewitching  spell  of  a 
pair  of  soft,  dark  eyes,  until  he  has  once  come 
under  their  magical  power.  Estevan  was  soon  to 
realize  the  power  of  a  glance  from  the  eyes  of  Inez. 
He  was  accustomed  to  take  long  walks  about  the 
convent,  going  half  a  league  into  the  country  and 
the  surrounding  hills  almost  every  day.  One  day, 


200  ESTEVAN. 

as  lie  was  returning  from  a  long  stroll,  he  was 
startled  at  the  sound  of  horses'  feet,  and,  looking 
up,  he  saw  a  gentleman,  richly  attired,  riding  by 
the  side  of  a  young  lady,  mounted  on  a  gayly 
caparisoned  Andalusian  pony.  Her  face  was  veiled, 
and  he  could  not  see  her  features,  but  he  knew  at 
a  glance  who  the  couple  were.  The  gallant  gen 
tleman  could  be  none  other  than  Don  Oviedo, 
who  was  a  familiar  personage  at  Salamanca.  Chris 
topher  longed  for  a  glimpse  of  the  seiiorita's  face. 
Just  then,  as  if  in  answer  to  his  wish,  a  breeze 
lifted  the  fleecy  veil,  and  gave  to  his  view  that 
bright,  nymph-like  beauty,  which  for  months  had 
been  the  subject  of  his  imagination. 

For  a  moment  only  did  he  behold  the  delightful 
vision,  yet  that  moment  sealed  his  fate.  The 
great,  soft,  dark  eyes  did  the  mischief. 

The  Spanish  twilight  fell  like  a  noiseless  curtain 
over  the  earth  as  the  youth  stood  watching  Dona 
Inez  and  her  father,  until  their  forms  were  no 
longer  discernible.  Then  he  started,  as  from  a  de 
lightful  dream. 

"He  has  lied!"  exclaimed  Christopher. 

This  charge  had  no  connection  with  the  couple 
that  had  just  passed.  lie  was  thinking  of  the 
boastful  assertion  of  Antonio,  and  again  he  cried: 
"He  has  lied!" 

For  the  next  few  days  little  attention  was  paid 


INEZ   OVIEDO.  201 

to  books.  The  schoolmasters  noticed  the  strange 
conduct  of  their  formerly  bright  pupil  and  mar 
velled  of  it. 

When  he  tried  to  read  philosophy,  he  saw  only 
a  pair  of  bright  eyes  on  the  page.  When  study 
ing  astronomy,  the  stars  became  the  beaming  orbs 
of  Inez.  Manfully  he  kept  his  secret.  He  wan 
dered  over  the  country  more  frequently  than  usual, 
going  farther  than  he  had  ever  gone  before.  The 
hamlet  and  castle  became  special  objects  of  interest, 
and,  from  a  far-off  hill,  he  watched  the  sun  set, 
casting  its  last  fad  ing  ray  on  roof  and  tower.  Then 
he  would  rise  and  begin  his  silent  homeward 
march. 

Again  and  again  he  wandered  to  the  hill  and  the 
village,  hoping  to  be  repaid  by  another  sight  of 
Inez;  but  he  was  always  disappointed.  He  grew 
madly  jealous  of  Antonio.  Reason  told  him  that 
the  boasting  fellow  had  spoken  falsely;  but  love  is 
unreasonable,  and  takes  to  itself  a  thousand  dis 
agreeable  forms  and  annoyances. 

Would  not  the  kind  Heaven  which  sent  the  wan 
dering  breeze  to  lift  her  veil  bring  about  some 
chance  by  which  he  might  meet  her?  One  even 
ing  Christopher  had  wandered  as  usual  to  the  hill 
to  gaze  on  the  far-off  castle  which  held  the  object 
dearest  to  his  heart.  In  despair  he  turn  to  retrace 
his  steps  to  Salamanca,  vowing  never  again  to  come 


202  ESTEVAN. 

to  the  hill-top.  He  descended  to  the  densely 
wooded  valley  and  entered  the  Salamanca  road, 
which  was  growing  dim  in  the  twilight. 

As  he  paused  here  a  moment,  before  retracing 
his  steps,  there  came  on  the  air  from  behind  him 
a  wild  clatter  of  hoofs,  and  above  the  noise  of 
thundering  feet,  a  piercing  shriek.  Filled  with 
wonder  and  alarm  he  involuntarily  laid  his  hand 
on  his  sword.  He  was  not  long  in  suspense.  A 
dark  Arabian  horse,  with  eyes  emitting  danger 
ous  fire,  came  flying  toward  him,  wild  with  rage 
and  terror.  On  his  back,  sitting  firmly  in  the  sad 
dle,  holding  the  reins  in  both  hands,  was  the  vision 
of  his  dreams,  Inez  Oviedo. 

"Saint  Anthony  be  praised  for  this!" 

Madly  he  leaped  toward  the  frightened  steed, 
hurling  himself  almost  under  its  hoofs.  It  was  a 
daring  act;  but  he  snatched  the  reins,  and,  with 
superhuman  strength,  hurled  the  animal  back  upon 
its  haunches,  holding  him  there  with  one  hand, 
while  with  the  other  he  assisted  Inez  to  dismount. 

"Thank  you,  senor!"  the  trembling  maiden 
whispered  in  his  ear. 

King  Ferdinand  was  not  more  proud  at  the  fall 
of  Granada,  than  was  Estevan  at  this  moment.  The 
conquered  horse  stood  trembling  in  the  grasp  of 
his  master. 

"  This  is  a  pleasure,  I   assure   you,'"  he    stam- 


"MADLY  HE  LKAI-KD  TO\VAI:I>  TIIK  FHU;HTEXEI>  STEED. 


INEZ    OVIEDO.  203 

mered,  "to  be  of  service  to  Dona  Inez  Oviedo. 
That  is  your  name,  I  believe?" 

"Yes,  senor,  and,  if  I  mistake  not,  you  are  the 
student  whom  we  passed  the  other  evening." 

"I  am;  Christopher  Estevan  is  my  name,  and 
America  my  birthplace." 

"A  native  of  America!  Are  you  one  of  those 
strange  people  of  whom  I  have  heard  so  much?" 

"I  am,  like  yourself,  a  Spaniard,"  he  answered, 
smiling.  "  My  parents  were  born  in  Spain,  but 
emigrated  to  America  soon  after  its  discovery. 
My  mother  lives  in  Cuba,  while  my  father  is  with 
Cortez  in  Mexico. 

"Hernando  Estevan?" 

"That  is  his  name." 

"I  have  heard  of  him.  My  uncle,  the  chroni 
cler,  is  also  in  the  New  World." 

"How  came  your  horse  to  run  away  with  you?" 

"  He  became  frightened  at  some  object  at  the  road 
side." 

"It  is  dangerous  for  you  to  ride  alone  so  late." 

"Father  was  to  accompany  me.  He  was  ready 
to  mount,  when  something  detained  him  a  moment 
at  the  castle,  and  I  thought  I  would  ride  a  short 
distance  and  wait." 

"He  knows  nothing  of  the  runaway?" 

"Nothing." 

Before  more  could  be  said,  there  came  from  the 


204  ESTEVAN. 

road  toward  the  village  a  clattering  of  hoofs,  and 
a  moment  later  Don  Oviedo  came  riding  at  full 
speed  calling  the  name  of  his  daughter.  He  was 
overjoyed  to  find  her  unharmed.  She  told^hec_ 
father  of  her  rescue,  and  the  don,  who  was  every 
inch  a  gentleman,  dismounted  and,  seizing  Este- 
van's  hand,  thanked  him  warmly. 

"You  owe  me  no  thanks,  Don  Oviedo,"  Chris 
topher  answered.  "  The  happiness  it  gives  me  to 
be  of  service  to  Dona  Inez  doubly  repaj's  me.'' 

The  senorita  heard  this  gallant  response;  her 
eyes  met  the  student's  and  drooped  beneath  his 
gaze,  while  a  soft  flush  stole  over  her  face,  per- 
ceptable  even  in  the  gathering  twilight.  Inez  was 
the  only  child  of  the  don,  and  the  thanks  welling 
up  from  his  proud  heart  were  poured  forth  without 
restraint.  The  don  had  known  Estevan's  father; 
while  the  story  of  his  grandfather's  (Roderigo  Es 
tevan's)  long  captivity  among  the  Moors  was  a 
familiar  tale  in  Spain. 

"You  came  of  good  stock,"  declared  the  old 
cavalier.  "The  house  of  Estevan  is  one  of  the 
oldest  and  proudest  in  Spain.  Your  ancestors  were 
men  who  feared  neither  Christian  nor  Moor,  and 
always  chose  the  side  of  right.  So  the  Estevans 
have  been  transplanted  to  the  New  World,  well,  I 
trust  they  may  flourish  there  as  long  as  they  have 
in  Spain.  America  must  be  a  wonderful  country. 


INEZ   OVIEDO.  205 

I  have  a  brother  there,  and,  God  willing,  I  may 
some  day  visit  it  myself." 

Estevan  was  invited  to  the  castle,  and  most 
gladly  accepted  the  invitation,  thinking  himself 
the  happiest  of  mortals.  He  could  now  meet  his 
rival  on  equal  footing.  The  bitter  feud  between 
his  family  and  that  of  Velasquez  was  destined  to 
become  more  bitter  still,  as  he  and  Antonio  now 
had  a  subject  worthy  of  a  quarrel.  Christopher 
had  many  advantages  over  his  rival.  He  was 
taller,  handsomer,  and  had  a  more  gallant  bearing. 
lie  was  skilled  in  all  the  accomplishments  of  the 
period,  and  well  calculated  to  win  the  heart  of  a 
lair  lady.  No  more  daring  horseman  ever  rode  a 
joust  or  tourney.  He  was  one  of  the  best  swords 
men  in  Spain,  and,  at  the  same  time,  was  a  skilful 
performer  on  the  guitar,  and  the  possessor  of  a 
rich,  musical  voice. 

From  this  day  he  became  a  favorite  at  the  cas 
tle.  Antonio  soon  learned  of  these  visits,  and  his 
hatred  of  Estevan  increased  a  thousand-fold,  for 
bitter  jealousy  was  added  to  the  ancient  family 
feud.  Antonio  was  shrewd  and  cunning.  There 
was  nothing  bold,  open,  or  noble  about  him;  he  was 
trained  in  the  school  of  deception,  and  could  wear 
an  affable  and  smiling  exterior,  while,  beneath,  he 
was  a  raging  devil.  What  Christopher  was  calcu 
lated  to  win  by  boldness,  he  sought  to  gain  by 


206  ESTEVAN. 

intrigue,  and,  though,  he  avoided  any  open  rup 
ture,  he  set  on  foot  schemes  to  ruin  the  young 
student. 

Meanwhile,  Estevan  lived  a  new  life,  for  there" 
had  dawned  for  him  a  joy  he  had  never  known 
before.  At  times  he  was  silent  and  melancholy, 
then  boisterous  and  happy.  The  birth  of  this  new 
emotion  had  changed  his  entire  being.  He  loved 
to  wander  alone  among  the  hills  about  the  old 
castle,  or  gaze  on  it  from  afar,  and  ask  himself  at 
which  window  sat  the  fair  conqueror  who  held 
his  heart  captive.  At  deepest  night,  when  all  the 
world  was  hushed  in  sleep,  and  the  high  moon 
alone  beheld  his  devotions,  he  would  steal  to  the 
castle,  the  temple  of  his  heart,  and  woo  his  beloved 
after  the  beautiful  fashion  of  Spain,  common  to 
this  day.  In  the  wing  of  the  castle  where  the  fair 
Inez  slept  was  a  room  with  a  balcony.  Beneath 
this  window  he  wrould  come  and  charm  the  long 
summer  night  with  the  sound  of  his  melodious  gui 
tar,  and  such  verses  as  the  inspiration  of  the  mo 
ment  sufficed  to  weave. 

One  night,  after  the  last  trembling  note  of  his 
guitar  had  died,  he  waited,  hoping  and  fearing,  for 
what,  he  dared  not  say.  Would  the  serenade  be 
favorably  received,  or  was  his  music  wasted  on  the 
dark  walls  of  the  old  castle?  A  moment  of  sus 
pense;  then  the  lattice- work  parted,  and  something 


INEZ   OVIEDO.  207 

white  fluttered  from  the  balcony  above.  He  cast 
his  eyes  upward,  catching  just  a  glimpse  of  a 
small  white  hand  in  the  moonlight,  when  a  delicate 
object,  burdening  the  air  with  its  rich  perfume, 
dropped  at  his  feet.  With  heart  wildly  beating 
with  hope  and  joy,  he  picked  it  up.  It  was  a 
beautiful  nosegay  of  rare  lilies  surrounding  a  blood- 
red  rose.  He  knew  the  emblem,  and,  seizing  the 
precious  flowers,  he  pressed  them  to  his  lips,  and, 
too  happy  to  longer  contain  himself,  fled  from  the 
scene.  The  joy  of  his  soul  overleaped  itself,  and, 
wandering  over  the  hills,  he  blessed  every  object 
of  nature.  It  seemed  as  if  he  could  not  quit  the 
hills  and  woods,  while  the  castle  became  an  en 
chanted  spot.  It  was  late  before  he  recovered 
sufficiently  to  return,  and,  as  he  was  entering  Sala 
manca,  a  dark  form  suddenly  arose  before  him,  and 
Estevan  recognized  his  angry  rival. 

"For  a  student  your  conduct  seerns  unbecom 
ing,"  he  said,  in  a  voice  which  trembled  despite 
his  efforts  to  be  cool.  "Where  have  you  been?" 

"Why  should  I  render  account  to  you?"  was 
the  indignant  response. 

"Do  you  hesitate  to  tell?" 

"Are  you  my  confessor?  God  forbid  I  should 
ever  have  such  an  one!" 

"God  forbid  that  I  should  ever  have  to  give 
absolution  to  an  outlaw  and  the  son  of  a  rebel!" 


208  ESTEVAN. 

Stung  to  the  quick,  Estevan  started  back  to 
draw  his  sword,  when  the  nosegay,  which  he  had 
until  this  moment  kept  concealed,  fell  at  his  feet. 
The  circle  of  snow-white  lilies  with  the  blood-red 
rose  in  the  centre  caught  the  jealous  eye  of  his 
rival,  and  the  hot  blood  mounted  to  his  cheek. 

"It  came  from  the  castle!"  he  cried. 

"It  concerns  not  you  whence  it  came!"  returned 
Estevan,  drawing  his  sword.  "Stand  aside,  or  I 
will  run  you  through." 

"Is  that  a  challenge?"  and  Antonio,  who  was  no 
coward,  drew  his  own  blade.  "This  is  a  quarrel  of 
your  own  seeking;  I  shall  not  be  responsible  for 
the  consequences." 

Both  were  excellent  swordsmen,  and  as  they 
clutched  their  slender  Toledo  blades,  there  was  blood 
in  their  eyes.  Velasquez  was  cunning,  and  he  tried 
to  get  Estevan  off  his  guard  by  alluding  again  to 
the  nosegay. 

"She  gave  it  to  you;  you  would  rob  me  of  her 
—die!" 

He  aimed  a  well-directed  thrust  at  Estevan, 
which  he  parried  with  the  skill  of  a  fencing-master, 
and,  recovering  his  position,  delivered  a  thrust  in 
return.  The  combat  began  in  earnest.  Like  flashes 
of  lightning  the  glittering  blades  played  together, 
now  darting  side  by  side,  now  whirling  like  mete 
ors,  with  the  swiftness  of  thought,  then  clinking 


INEZ  OVIDEO.  209 

alongside  again  with  the  wary  darts  of  serpents' 
tongues.  As  they  became  thoroughly  warmed  up 
to  the  work,  and  realized  that  their  lives  hung  on 
the  points  of  their  swords,  they  grew  more  cautious 
and  at  the  same  time  more  deadly.  The  blood 
trickled  from  the  cheek  of  Velasquez,  and  Christo 
pher's  sword  arm  had  been  slightly  punctured 
between  the  elbow  and  the  wrist.  The  blood, 
flowing  down  to  the  handle  of  his  weapon,  made  it 
slippery,  and  his  hold  became  uncertain.  The 
conflict  had  just  reached  its  height,  when  Father 
Philip,  a  priest  friendly  with  Estevan,  returning 
after  a  late  visit  to  a  dying  sinner,  was  attracted  to 
the  spot  by  the  clashing  of  the  swords,  and  the 
heavy  breathing  of  the  combatants.  Boldly  rush 
ing  between  them,  he  hurled  them  aside: 

"Put  up  your  swords!"  he  commanded. 

Instinctively  they  obeyed,  and  each  went  his  way. 
14 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

LOVE      AND      HATE. 

WHILE  young  Estevan  was  making  love  in 
Spain,  great  events  were  transpiring  in  the  New 
World,  concerning  most  of  which  his  mother's 
letters  kept  him  posted.  Years  had  rolled  by  since 
he  left  Cuba.  He  was  still  an  outlaw,  and  as  the 
hatred  of  the  Cuban  governor  seemed  to  increase 
with  time,  he  dared  not  return.  His  father  still 
lingered  in  Mexico ;  but  Cortez  was  soon  to  set  out 
for  Spain  to  lay  their  cause  before  the  king,  arid 
Christina  Estevan  hoped  he  would  win  the  good 
opinion  of  the  sovereign,  so  that  the  banished  hus 
band  might  return. 

One  of  her  letters  contained  the  following: 

"One  of  your  enemies  is  no  more.  I  allude  to  Panfilo  de 
Narvaez,  who  lost  his  eye  in  Mexico.  Narvaez  was  am 
bitious  to  conquer  a  country  and  reap  such  rewards  as 
have  fallen  to  Cortez.  From  Charles  V. ,  he  obtained  a 
commission  to  explore  the  country  which  Ponce  de  Leon 
discovered  sixteen  years  ago  and  named  Florida.  It 
seems,  from  what  can  be  learned,  that  the  expedition, 
which  set  out  from  here  in  June,  1527,  reached  Florida, 
where  they  found  the  natives  quite  hostile.  They  either 
210 


LOVE  AND   HATE.  211 

made  efforts  to  repulse  the  Spaniards,  or  kept  aloof  from 
them.  The  explorers  landed  and  wandered  through  a 
.strange,  wild  country,  where  the  trees  grow  so  tall  that 
their  tops  seem  to  brush  the  sky,  and  through  the  densest 
of  foliage  the  awful  roar  of  the  lion  frequently  smote 
their  ears.  Strange  birds  and  beasts,  such  as  the  white 
men  of  Europe  never  looked  on  before,  were  found  in 
abundance  in  this  wonderful  land,  but  no  rich  mines  nor 
cities,  such  as  in  Mexico,  were  discovered.  To  delude 
them,  the  natives  spoke  of  a  hill  of  pure  gold,  and  they 
wandered  for  a  great  distance,  crossing  rivers  on  rafts 
and  scaling  mountains.  Many  perished  of  hunger,  or  sunk 
in  the  swamps,  and  the  Indians  killed  many  more,  so 
N.'rvaez  discovered  that  they  must  all  soon  perish.  They 
wandered  back  to  the  coast,  but  a  handful  of  those  who 
hai  landed  in  Florida.  There  some  of  them,  under  Caleza, 
we:e  discovered  and  rescued  ;  but  it  is  quite  certain  that 
N.'irvaez  perished,  his  frail  bark  foundering  at  sea. 

"A  man  who  is  your  father's  friend  is  engaged  in  a 
most  remarkable  conquest.  His  name  is  Francisco  Pizarro 
and  he  is  the  one  who  was  with  Vasco  Nunez  de  Balboa, 
our  Christoval's  father,  when  Don  Pedrarias,  Governor  of 
Darien,  had  him  beheaded.  Pizarro  says  there  is  a  vast 
country  beyond  the  South  Sea,  greater  in  magnitude  and 
wealth  than  Mexico.  He  also  says  there  is  a  wonderful 
city  of  gold  in  this  far-off  land  called  Peru.  Pizarro  was 
promised  help  from  Darien  and  from  Spain  to  discover 
this  country,  but  all  failed  him.  For  a  long  time  he  was 
left  with  a  few  followers  at  a  strange  island  in  an  almost 
starving  condition.  At  last  a  ship  was  sent  to  bring  them 
off,  and  Pizarro  refused  to  return.  Drawing  his  sword, 
he  traced  a  line  with  it  on  the  sand  from  east  to  west. 
Turning  toward  the  south  he  said : 

" '  Friends  and  comrades  !  On  that  side  are  toil,  hunger, 
nakedness,  the  drenching  storm,  desertion,  and  death ;  on 
this  side  ease  and  pleasure.  There  lies  Peru  with  its 


212  ESTEVAN. 

riches  ;  here,  Panama  and  its  poverty.  Choose,  each  man, 
what  best  becomes  a  brave  Castilian.  For  my  part,  I  go 
to  the  south, '  and  he  stepped  across  the  line,  followed  by 
his  brave  pilot  Ruiz ;  next  by  a  Greek  named  Pedro  de 
Candia,  and  eleven  others.  With  these  thirteen  followers,, 
he  commenced  the  conquest  of  Peru.  Many  months  have 
elapsed  and  the  wonderful  land  has  not  been  reached.  I 
have  just  learned  that  Pizarro  contemplates  going  to  Spain 
to  enlist  the  king  in  his  enterprise.  Should  he  succeed, 
he  will  be  the  richest  conqueror  the  world  has  ever 
known. 

"  Before  I  close  this  letter,  I  must  tell  you  of  Christoval. 
She  is  now  a  beautiful  woman,  but  as  strange  and  mysteri 
ous  as  ever,  and  my  own  daughter  does  not  love  me  more. 
She  never  sleeps,  I  think,  without  breathing  your  name  in 
her  prayers.  She  is  meek,  patient,  and  lovable,  but  I  can't 
understand  her.  Every  day  she  goes  to  the  beach  where  , 
you  wandered  so  often,  and  gazes  out  across  the  ocean,  as 
if  looking  to  see  you  come  back.  Once  I  found  her  there 
bathed  in  tears.  I  asked  her  why  she  wept,  but  evading 
me,  she  ran  to  the  house.  I  think  she  was  weeping  be 
cause  her  brother  was  away.  I  hope  affairs  may  soon 
change  so  that  you  and  your  father  may  both  be  able  to 
come  home ;  but  I  fear,  yet  dare  not  tell  Christoval  so, 
that  we  are  destined  to  spend  our  lives  in  different  lands. 
For  the  present  adieu. 

"Your  mother, 

"  CHRISTINA  ESTEVAN.  " 


Carefully  folding  his  mother's  letter,  Estevan 
placed  it  between  the  leaves  of  his  book.  Strange 
thoughts  had  been  aroused  by  the  perusal  of  the 
epistle.  His  father,  whom  he  had  not  seen  since 
childhood,  his  mother,  brother,  sister,  and  Christo- 


LOVE  AND   HATE.  213 

val,  all  seemed  to  claim  anew  their  place  in  his 
affections.  But  that  part  which  aroused  the  latent 
ambition  in  his  breast  was  the  reference  to  Francisco 
Pizarro. 

"He  is  coming  to  Spain  to  lit  out  for  the  con 
quest  of  Peru,  the  wonderful  land  of  which  old 
Zuna  the  fugitive  slave  told  me.  There  are  the 
cities  whose  houses  are  roofed  with  gold.  I  will 
go  with  him,"  declared  Estevan.  "When  he 
comes,  I  will  join  him." 

His  love  for  Inez  Oviedo  had  not  abated  his 
ambition  to  become  an  explorer.  There  were  more 
worlds  to  conquer  and  he  resolved  to  conquer  them; 
but  for  a  while  longer  he  dallied  at  the  feet  of  the 
beautiful  being  of  his  adoration,  reading  to  her  the 
poetry  and  romances  of  the  day,  or  amusing  her 
with  his  guitar.  He  kept  from  her  ears  the  story 
of  his  encounter  with  Antonio.  He  and  his  rival 
frequently  met,  but  they  never  spoke. 

The  student  was  more  often  at  the  castle  than  at 
the  convent,  and  was  always  warmly  welcomed, 
lie  often  went  riding  with  Dona  Inez,  and  on  one 
of  these  occasions  met  Velasquez  in  the  road.  He 
greeted  them  with  silent  amazement  and  hatred. 
His  look  bode  the  successful  lover  no  good;  but 
what  cared  Estevan  for  danger,  while  basking  in 
the  sunlight  of  the  senorita's  love?  He  found  Inez 
such  a  fountain  of  wisdom  and  purity  that  he  could 


214  ESTEVAN. 

forget  sorrows  and  dangers  in  her  presence.  Day 
by  day  his  affection  grew  stronger,  until  he  loved 
her  madly.  As  her  mind,  richly  stored  witlj  use 
ful  accomplishments,  each  day  unfolded  some  new~ 
beauty,  that  love  become  almost  worship.  It 
seemed  as  if  she  was  born  to  inspire  all  who  knew 
her  with  noble  thoughts.  Those  who  could  not 
understand  her  soul  were  made  spiritual,  as  it  were, 
by  the  magic  of  her  beauty.  Those  who  had  no 
heart  for  poetry  had  ears  for  the  music  of  her 
voice. 

The  lovers  were  much  together,  riding,  walking, 
or  rowing  in  the  Spanish  gondola.  They  could  not 
have  told  on  what  subjects  they  conversed.  Their 
talk  was  not  of  love,  but  every  word  and  glance  was 
love  itself.  Estevan  told  her  of  his  home  in  the 
New  World,  of  his  parents  and  their  persecution, 
and  Inez  listened,  absorbed  and  mute.  Dearer  were 
those  simple  stories  than  all  the  extravagant  praises 
of  her  numberless  admirers.  Their  love  was  sudden 
but  it  was  strong.  Heart,  brain,  sense,  imagination, 
all  were  its  ministers.  When  the  betrothal  vows 
were  spoken,  they  could  scarce  remember,  so 
naturally  did  the  wonderful  event  come  about. 
Young,  beautiful,  and  gifted — of  noble  birth  and 
lofty  souls — there  was  harmony  in  their  union,  on 
which  the  heavens  smiled;  but  dark  clouds  were 
rising  in  the  horizon,  and  beneath  the  altar  of  their 


LOVE   AND   HATS.  215 

happiness  a  hissing  serpent  had  coiled,  ready  to 
strike  them  with  its  deadly  fangs. 

Antonio  had  not  surrendered  his  claim  to  the 
fair  Dona  Inez.  He  was  only  biding  his  time  and 
perfecting  schemes  which  would  bring  disaster  and 
ruin  upon  his  hated  rival. 

"  Fool!  does  he  think  an  Estevan  superior  in  wit 
to  a  Velasquez?  I  shall  first  ensnare  him  in  a  web 
of  disgrace  and  ruin,  and  then  try  my  chance  with 
the  rich  and  beautiful  senorita." 

With  Estevan  all  was  going  well.  He  told  the 
old  Don  of  his  love  for  Inez,  and  their  betrothal  re 
ceived  the  blessing  of  the  proud  old  hidalgo.  The 
youth  kept  it  a  secret  from  his  parents  and  friends, 
designing  a  happy  surprise  for  them.  Alas!  what 
misery  that  precious  secret  brought  to  one  he  loved, 
the  world  will  never  know. 

One  night  he  stood  beneath  the  casement  of  Inez' 
room  to  sing  a  love  serenade.  The  castle  was  dark 
from  frowning  battlement  to  drawbridge,  but  on 
her  window-pane  a  coquettish  moonbeam  played. 
He  held  his  lute  a  moment  in  his  hand,  gazing  on 
the  crimson  roses  which,  stirred  by  the  gentle 
zephyrs,  tapped  against  the  pane. 

"  She  awaits  my  voice  to  come  forth  and  join  me 
on  the  balcony,"  he  thought. 

As  he  was  about  to  touch  the  strings,  he  heard  a 
noise,  and,  turning  suddenly,  saw  a  flash  issuing  from 


216  ESTEVAN. 

a  clump  of  buslies  beyond  tlie  drawbridge.  Drop 
ping  his  lute  he  snatched  his  sword  from  its  sheath 
and  flew  to  the  spot  whence  came  the  flash.  He 
found  no  one,  though  hastily  retreating  footsteps-* 
told  him  that  a  foe  had  lurked  near.  He  was 
about  to  pursue  him,  when  he  stumbled  over  a 
matchlock.  The  match  was  still  burning,  but  the 

o  / 

powder  in  the  pan  was  gone  out  in  the  flash  he 
had  seen,  failing  to  ignite  the  powder  in  the  barrel. 

"I  have  an  enemy  cowardly  enough  to  resort  to 
assassination,"  he  thought. 

Nevertheless,  he  returned,  sang  his  song,  and 
received  his  reward  from  the  balcony  above. 

School  was  forgotten  and  the  student  lived  only 
in  the  presence  of  Inez.  Walking  together,  gal 
loping  on  fiery  Arabian  steeds  over  the  rugged 
country,  they  were  almost  inseparable.  But,  most 
of  all,  they  loved  to  glide  down  the  narrow  stream 
side  by  side  in  the  beautiful  gondola. 

Such  happiness  was  not  destined  to  last,  and  the 
rude  awakening  came  all  too  soon. 

One  morning  Father  Philip,  who  had  always 
been  his  friend,  entered  the  apartment  of  Estevan, 
his  face  deathly  pale,  his  frame  trembling,  and  tears 
in  his  eyes.  Estevan  started  to  his  feet,  and  seized 
his  friend's  hand. 

""What  is  the  matter,  father;  what  has  happened 
to  distress  yon?"  he  asked. 


LOVE  AND  HATE. 


217 


"  Alas!  I  have  sorrowful  news  for  you,  my  son." 
"Have  you  come  to  tell  me  of  the  death  of  my 
parents?" 

The  good  priest  shook  his  head. 


SIDE  BY  SIDB,   THEY  FLOATED   DOWN   THE   NARROW  STREAM. 

"Then  what  can  be  the  trouble?" 
"  It  is  something  which  causes  more  grief  than 
death,  my  son — disgrace!" 


218  ESTEVAN. 

"Disgrace!"  gasped  Estevan,  his  cheek  deathly 
pale.  "Who  is  disgraced?" 

"Don't  blame  me,  my  son.  I  did  all  I  could 
to  spare  you,  but  I  was  overruled." 

"Holy  father,  in  God's  name,  what  do  you 
mean?"  he  asked,  starting  up  in  alarm  and  gazing 
in  amazement  at  the  priest. 

"Serious  charges  were  brought  before  the  faculty 
against  you — and — you  were  expelled  from  the 
convent." 

Estevan  started  to  his  feet,  and  gazed  at  the 
priest  like  one  stunned  by  a  blow. 

"Expelled!"  he  repeated. 

"Would  to  heaven  it  were  otherwise!  but  it  is 
too  true,"  sobbed  the  priest. 

"Of  what  offence  am  I  charged?"  he  asked  as 
soon  as  he  could  speak. 

"The  charges  are  numerous;  three  of  them 
are  insubordination,  heresy,  and  treason  to  the 
crown." 

Covering  his  face  with  his  hands,  Estevan  tried 
to  collect  his  scattered  faculties,  and  think  where 
in  he  had  been  guilty  of  such  serious  offences. 
After  a  moment's  silence,  he  sat  up  and  fixed  his 
great  blue  eyes  on  the  priest. 

"Holy  father,  I  know  not  how  I  have  given 
offence  as  indicated." 

"Nor  I,  but,  though  I  have  tried  to  convince  the 


LOVE  AND    HATE.  219 

Bishop  of  Burgos,  for  some  cause  lie  is  immovable 
from  his  purpose." 

"The  Bishop  of  Burgos  is  Juan  Rodriguez  de 
Fonseca,  is  he  not?" 

"He  is." 

"I  begin  to  understand  it  now.  He  was  an 
enemy  of  Christopher  Columbus,  and  my  father, 
being  a  personal  friend  of  the  admiral,  drew  down 
on  him  the  hatred  of  the  bishop.  Governor  Velas 
quez  and  his  nephew  Antonio  are  likewise  enemies 
of  my  father  and  myself,  and  have  helped  to  poison 
the  mind  of  the  bishop  against  me." 

The  priest  groaned. 

"The  bishop  is  all-powerful  and  we  are  forced 
to  obey  him,"  he  said.  "  Recalcitration  will  be 
impossible;  the  order  has  been  issued,  and  you 
must  bow  in  mute  submission." 

"I  dare  not  return  home." 

"Why?" 

"I  am  outlawed.  Governor  Velasquez  pro 
claimed  me  an  outlaw." 

"For  what  reason?" 

The  student  told  the  priest  of  the  old  feud  and 
the  bitter  rivalry  between  himself  and  Antonio 
over  Dona  Inez  Oviedo. 

"If  I  had  known  all  this  sooner  I  might  have 
averted  this  blow,"  sighed  the  priest. 

"Is  it  too  late?" 


220  ESTEVAN. 

"It  is.  You  are  even  now  in  danger  of  arrest 
and  chains." 

"I  will  cany  my  cause  to  the  throne,"  he  cried. 

Again  the  priest  shook  his  head.  ^ 

"It  will  not  avail  you,  my  son;  it's  too  late — 
too  late.  Bo  nothing,  say  nothing  for  the  present. 
King  Charles  is  determined  to  uphold  the  governors 
in  the  New  World." 

Estcvan  went  out  from  the  principal  seat  of 
learning  of  the  world  in  disgrace.  His  proud  spirit 
felt  most  keenly  the  deep  humiliation  of  this  ex 
pulsion. 

"Antonio  has  gained  the  ear  of  the  bishop,"  he 
thought,  "and  most  cruelly  maligned  me." 

The  gentle  twilight  of  an  autumnal  evening  was 
falling,  as  the  student,  sad  and  dejected,  wended 
his  way  along  the  well-beaten  path  to  the  castle  on 
the  hill. 

How  would  she  receive  him?  "Was  she  already 
aware  of  his  disgrace,  or  would  she  first  hear  it 
from  his  own  lips?  The  castle,  grim  and  silent, 
loomed  up  before  him.  The  sun  had  set,  and  the 
moon  was  shedding  a  silvery  light  upon  the  scene. 
Estevan  was  walking  hurriedly  toward  the  frowning 
castle,  when  a  tall,  dark  form  suddenly  came  from 
the  shadows  of  some  wide-spreading  oaks  and  ad 
vanced  to  meet  him. 

"Stop,  Sefior   Estevan!"  said   a   deep,   solemn 


LOVE  AND   HATE.  221 

voice.  It  was  Don  Oviedo  himself,  and,  trembling 
with  dread,  the  youth  came  to  a  halt.  "I  must 
forbid  you  my  castle,  senor.  You  may  not  sing 
and  play  beneath  my  daughter's  balcony.  I  have 
learned  of  your  disgrace,  and  my  daughter  cannot 
wed  an  outlaw  and  heretic." 

For  a  moment  Estevan  strove  to  speak;  but  he 
was  unable  to  utter  a  word.  Don  Oviedo  saw  the 
effort. 

"I  know  what  you  would  say,"  he  added,  "but 
it's  no  use,  senor,  I  have  it  all  from  the  bishop." 

"The  bishop  is  an  enemy  to  my  family,"  Este 
van  gasped. 

Don  Oviedo  was  a  religious  zealot,  and  to  utter 
a  word  against  a  priest  was  an  offence  not  to  be 
condoned.  lie  raised  his  hand  to  enjoin  silence. 

".Do  not  say  aught  against  the  bishop.  He  is 
above  petty  jealousies  or  envy.  He-is  too  great  to 
be  questioned;  but  as  this  has  come  to  my  ears 
from  the  best  authority,  which  cannot  be  doubted, 
you  must  consider  your  engagement  to  my  daughter 
broken  off." 

"Don  Oviedo,  will  you  not  consult  your  daugh 
ter's  happiness?" 

"I  am  doing  so." 

"Give  me  time  to  establish  my  innocence.  Give 
me  a  few  months,  a  few  weeks  to  prove  that  the  good 
bishop  has  been  deceived." 


222  ESTEVAN. 

The  Don  considered  the  matter  a  moment. 

"I  will  give  you  a  week,"  he  said;  "but,  mean 
while,  you  must  not  come  to  the  castle." 

"A  week,  a  whole  week,"  said  +he  student 
hopefully,  as  he  turned  and  walked  away.  "A 
stay  of  opinion  has  been  granted  for  a  week. 
Heaven  grant  that  I  may  be  able  to  establish  my 
innocence." 

The  intrigues  of  Antonio  and  the  bishop  went 
on.  The  day  after  the  scene  we  have  witnessed, 
Antonio  met  Inez,  but,  knowing  that  she  had 
learned  of  Este van's  disgrace,  he  was  too  shrewd  to 
add  more.  He  saw  her  frequently,  and  each  time 
he  strove  with  consummate  skill  to  prepare  her  for 
the  impressions  he  designed  to  have  her  receive. 
Inez  read  him  like  an  open  book,  and  knew  that, 
while  he  never  recurred  to  the  disgrace  of  Estevan, 
he  was  secretly  exulting  over  his  downfall.  She 
took  great  care  to  conceal  her  anguish;  but  she 
had  a  cunning  man  to  deal  with,  and,  if  she  read 
Antonio,  he  was  no  less  slow  in  discovering  her  in 
most  thoughts.  One  day,  by  a  seeming  accident, 
Estevan' s  disgrace  was  referred  to,  and  Antonio 
treated  the  subject  as  unworthy  of  consideration. 

"I  warned  you  against  the  adventurer  and  out 
law,"  he  said.  "  Could  more  be  expected  than  that 
he  should  be  expelled  from  the  convent?" 

"He  is  not  the  only  one  who  has  been  expelled, 


LOVE   AND   HATE.  223 

senor,"  was  the  spirited  answer.  "I  have  heard 
that  even  you  study  under  a  private  tutor." 

He  stammered,  blushed,  and  after  many  efforts 
made  a  partial  explanation  and  took  his  leave. 
On  reaching  Salamanca,  he  discovered  his  rival 
leaving  the  town  on  a  mule. 

'"  Why  have  not  the  officers  done  their  duty?"  he 
asked  himself.  "Diego  and  Miguel  should  even 
now  have  him  in  chains  on  shipboard.  Once  get 
him  to  Cuba,  and  he  will  be  put  out  of  my  way." 

Antonio  lost  no  time  in  hunting  up  the  officers 
who  had  the  warrant  for  Estevan's  arrest,  and  told 
them  that  their  man  had  just  made  his  escape,  and 
was  on  his  way  from  town  by  the  old  Seville  road, 
riding  a  mule.  By  Antonio's  aid  the  officers  pro 
cured  a  pair  of  swift  horses  and  started  in  hot 
pursuit. 

"  Slay  him  if  he  resists — and  he  will  resist,"  was 
Antonio's  parting  instruction  to  Diego  and  Miguel. 


CHAPTEE  XV. 

PIZARKO    AND    CORTEZ. 

GLOOMY  and  despondent,  Estevan  jogged  along 
the  road,  and  Salamanca  was  soon  lost  to  view 
among  the  hills.  The  day  was  well  advanced,  and 
he  had  a  long  and  dangerous  journey  before  him, 
and  a  relentless  and  subtle  foe  in  his  rear;  but  his 
thoughts  were  not  of  himself.  Misfortune,  disgrace, 
and  death  were  forgotten  in  the  fear  that  he  had 
lost  the  only  being  who  would  make  his  life  worth 
living. 

A  clatter  of  hoofs  startled  him  from  his  painful 
revery,  and,  turning  his  eyes  to  where  a  road  from, 
the  hamlet  intersected  the  path  he  was  travelling, 
he  saw  a  man  riding  a  horse  and  leading  another. 
He  waved  his  hand  for  Estevan  to  stop. 

"Wait,  seiior;  I  have  a  better  steed  for  you!" 
he  called  after  him. 

"Who  are  you?"  asked  the  amazed  youth  as  the 
strange  horseman  approached  him. 

"I  am  your  friend  Sancho,  sent  to  bring  you  a 
234 


PIZARRO   AND    (JORTEZ.  225 

horse,  and  accompany  you  on  your  journey,  for 
you  have  enemies  in  hot  pursuit." 

"Have  I  rnet  you  before?  Are  you  a  retainer 
at  the  castle?" 

"Lose  no  time  in  conjecture.  I  am  your  friend 
come  to  guide  you  to  safety;  trust  in  me  and  all  is 
well.  Your  enemies  ride  hard  behind  you." 

Turning  his  mule  loose,  he  mounted  one  of  the 
horses  and  set  off  with  his  mysterious  guide  at  full 
speed  for  Seville.  Although  Estevan's  pursuers 
followed  him  for  several  leagues,  he  managed  to 
shake  them  off,  and  then  the  faithful  Sancho,  bid 
ding  him  God-speed,  left  him  as  mysteriously  as 
he  had  approached  him. 

Reaching  Seville  in  safety,  Estevan  remained 
quietly  among  friends  until  danger  was  thought  to 
be  over.  One  morning  he  was  strolling  in  disguise 
toward  the  bay,  when  he  discovered  a  large  vessel 
which  had  just  come  into  port.  He  at  once  con 
jectured  that  it  had  come  from  the  New  World.  At 
this  moment  he  heard  loud,  angry  voices,  and  dis 
covered  a  commotion  at  the  quay,  toward  which 
great  crowds  of  people  were  hurrying. 

"It  is  a  scurvy  trick  for  Bachelor  Encisco  to 
arrest  him  just  now,"  one  man  declared. 

"Who  is  arrested?"  the  youth  asked. 

At  this  moment  some  officers  came  up  the  hill 
with  a  tall,  sunburned,  battle-scarred  man,  whose 
15 


226  ESTEVAN. 

long  beard  and  abundant  hair  bore  evidences  of  a 
wild  life.  This  man,  Estevan  learned,  was  Francisco 
Pizarro,  wrho  had  just  returned  from  America. 

Pizarro,  with  his  officers,  had  reached  Seville  thai 
morning  (early  in  summer  of  1528).  There  hap 
pened  to  be  in  Seville  at  that  time  a  person  known 
in  the  history  of  Spanish  adventure  as  Bachelor 
Encisco.  He  had  taken  an  active  part  in  the 
colonization  of  terra -firma,  and  had  a  pecuniary 
claim  against  the  early  colonists  of  Darien,  of  whom 
Pizarro  was  one.  Immediately  on  his  landing, 
Pizarro  was,  by  Encisco' s  orders,  seized  for  the 
debt.  Pizarro,  who  fled  from  his  native  land  as  a 
forlorn  and  homeless  adventurer,  after  an  absence 
of  more  than  twenty  years,  most  of  which  time  was 
passed  in  unprecedented  toil  and  suffering,  now 
found  himself,  on  his  return,  the  inmate  of  a 
prison.  Such  was  the  commencement  of  those 
brilliant  fortunes  which,  as  he  had  trusted,  awaited 
him  at  home. 

While  Estevan  stood  watching  them  take  the 
man  away  to  a  debtor's  prison,  he  heard  more  than 
one  expression  of  indignation  from  the  bystanders. 
Here  was  a  man  who  had  been  the  friend  of  his 
father  suffering  the  most  intolerable  persecution. 
Estevan  determined  to  see  the  prisoner  and  try  to 
aid  him.  Soon  after  his  incarceration,  he  de 
manded  admission  to  Pizarro' s  cell,  and  after  some 


PIZARRO   AND    CORTEZ.  227 

difficulty  was  admitted.  The  bronzed,  battle- 
hardened  conqueror  fixed  his  eyes  on  the  youth  in 
amazement. 

"Who  are  you?"  he  asked. 

"Christopher  Estevan." 

"The  son  of  Hernando?" 

"Yes,  senor. " 

"He  was  my  friend." 

"  And  so  arn  I,  senor.  I  come  to  offer  my  ser 
vices  to  }TOU,  poor  as  they  may  be." 

"Why  are  you  in  Seville?"  asked  Pizarro,  re 
garding  the  young  man  with  interest. 

Estevan  told  his  story,  concealing  nothing  save 
his  love  arid  betrothal  to  Inez. 

"You  have  been  as  illy  treated  as  I,"  said  the 
great  conqueror,  when  he  had  concluded.  "  I  came 
to  lay  before  the  king  my  plans  for  the  conquest  of 
the  richest  country  in  the  world.  I  have  brought 
samples  of  gold  and  treasure  from  Peru,  such  as 
the  king  has  never  seen.  The  moment  I  touched 
my  foot  on  my  native  shore  I  was  arrested  for  a 
debt  for  which  I  am  no  more  responsible  than 
Governor  Pedrarias.  It  was  Balboa  who  dispos 
sessed  Bachelor  Encisco  and  not  I." 

After  a  long  consultation  over  the  matter,  Este 
van  became  so  interested  in  the  conquest  of  Peru 
that  he  determined  to  accompany  Pizarro' s  officers 
to  Toledo,  where  they  proposed  to  lay  the  matter 


228  ESTEVAN. 

before  that  monarch,  although  there  was  danger  of 
his  own  arrest. 

As  yet  the  king  had  received  too  little  returns 
from  his  transatlantic  possessions  to  give  them  the 
attention  they  deserved.  But  as  the  recent  acquisi 
tion  of  Mexico,  and  the  brilliant  anticipations 
respecting  the  southern  continent,  were  pressed  upon 
his  notice,  he  felt  their  importance  as  likely  to 
afford  the  means  for  prosecuting  his  most  ambitious 
and  expensive  enterprises,  and  he  was  therefore 
willing  to  listen  to  Pizarro.  He  ordered  his  release 
at  once  and  commanded  that  he  should  be  sent  to 
him.  Much  to  the  disgust  of  Encisco,  the  debtor 
was  released. 

Estevan  accompanied  Pizarro  to  Toledo.  Enter 
ing  the  city,  Estevan  and  Pizarro  were  walking 
along  one  of  the  chief  thoroughfares,  discussing 
the  proposed  conquest,  when  they  suddenly  came 
upon  a  cavalier  as  bronzed,  swarthy,  and  battle- 
hardened  as  the  hero  of  Panama.  Though  it  had 
been  years  since  Estevan  had  seen  that  face,  a 
glance  at  it  recalled  the  early  morning  at  St.  Jago 
when  the  angry  governor,  mounted  on  his  fiery 
horse,  thundered  down  to  the  water's  edge  and 
demanded  the  return  of  the  man  whom  he  had 
commissioned  to  the  conquest  of  Mexico.  Estevan 
was  but  a  child  then,  yet  he  recognized  him,  and, 
bounding  forward,  he  seized  his  hand. 


PIZARRO   AND    CORTEZ.  229 

"Cortez!"  lie  cried. 

The  cavalier  glanced  at  him  in  astonishment. 

"Who  in  the  devil's  name  are  you?" 

"Estevan,  son  of  the  man  who  sailed  with  you 
from  Cuba  to  conquer  Mexico  ten  years  ago." 

"I  know  you  now,"  said  Cortez,  embracing 
him. 

"  Have  you  forgotten  me,  and  the  night  nearly  a 
score  of  years  ago,  when,  at  the  house  of  this  lad's 
father  in  San  Domingo,  we  talked  of  Ojeda's  ex 
pedition?" 

"Piznrro — cousin!"  interrupted  Cortez,  grasp 
ing  the  hand  of  the  hero  of  the  Isthmus.  Cortez 
always  acknowledged  Pizarro  as  his  cousin,  and, 
in  fact,  the  conqueror  of  Peru  was  a  soldier  with 
whom  no  one  need  be  ashamed  to  claim  relation 
ship. 

Estevan  was  anxious  to  learn  of  his  father,  and  as 
soon  as  greetings  between  the  conquerors  were 
over,  he  began  to  ply  Cortez  with  questions 
about  his  parent,  and  to  ask  if  he  could  return  to 
Cuba. 

"I  have  come  to  lay  an  empire  at  the  feet  of  my 
sovereign,"  answered  Cortez,  "and  to  demand  in 
return  redress  for  our  wrongs  and  recompense  for 
our  services.  Your  father  shall  not  be  forgotten, 
and  will  be  the  first  for  whom  relief  is  asked." 

"What  are  the  chances  of  success?" 


230  ESTEVAN. 

"Good;  I  am  sure  that  every  boon  I  crave  will 
be  granted." 

"Can  you  assist  me?"  asked  Pizarro.      "You  are 
at  the  close  of  a  brilliant  career,  and  I  am  at  tke^ 
beginning  of  mine." 

"All  that  I  can  do  to  further  your  cause, 
Pizarro,  shall  be  done." 

Thus  those  two  men,  so  wonderfully  alike  in 
some  particulars  and  so  dissimilar  in  others,  were 
united  in  a  common  interest.  The  conqueror  of 
the  north  and  the  conqueror  of  the  south;  the  two 
men  appointed  by  Providence  to  overturn  the  most 
powerful  of  Indian  dynasties,  and  open  the  golden 
gates  through  which  the  treasures  of  the  New  World  * 
were  to  pass  into  the  coffers  of  Spain,  were  to  assail 
the  throne  in  the  interest  of  Pizarro.  While  prep 
arations  for  laying  Pizarro' s  case  before  the  king 
were  being  made,  the  three  were  almost  insepar 
able.  It  was  arranged  that  Estevan,  the  outlawed 
youth,  should  become  one  of  the  recruits  for  the 
Peruvian  expedition,  concerning  the  success  of 
which  neither  Cortez  or  Pizarro  entertained  a  doubt. 

When  granted  an  audience  with  Charles  V., 
Pizarro  stated  that  he  had  come  to  satisfy  his  royal 
eyes  by  visible  proofs  of  the  truth  of  the  golden 
rumors  of  Peru,  which  had  time  and  again  been 
borne  to  Castile.  Despite  his  illiteracy  and  hum 
ble  birth,  Pizarro,  unembarrassed  in  the  presence  of 


PIZARRO    AND    CORTEZ.  231 

his  king,  maintained  his  self-possession,  and  showed 
that  decorum  and  even  dignity  in  his  address  which 
belong  to  Castilians.  He  spoke  in  a  simple  and 
respectful  manner,  but  with  the  earnestness  and 
natural  eloquence  of  one  who  had  been  an  actor  in  the 
scenes  lie  described,  and  who  was  conscious  that  the 
impression  he  made  on  his  audience  was  to  decide 
his  future  destiny.  The  king  and  the  court  listened 
with  eagerness  to  the  account  of  Pizarro's  strange 
adventures  by  sea  and  land,  his  wanderings  in  the 
forests,  or  in  the  dismal  and  pestilential  swamps  on 
the  sea-coast,  without  food,  almost  without  rai 
ment,  with  feet  torn  and  bleeding  at  almost  every 
step,  his  few  companions  daily  becoming  fewer  by 
disease  and  death,  and  yet  pressing  on  with  uncon 
querable  spirit  to  extend  the  empire  of  Castile,  and 
the  name  and  power  of  his  sovereign.  When  he 
described  his  lonely  condition  on  the  desolate 
island,  abandoned  by  the  government  at  home,  de 
serted  by  all  but  a  handful  of  devoted  followers, 
his  royal  auditor,  though  seldom  affected,  was 
moved  to  tears. 

The  king  examined  the  various  objects  brought 
from  Peru  with  great  care  and  attention.  He  was 
particularly  interested  in  the  llama,  remarkable  as 
the  only  beast  of  burden  yet  known  in  the  new 
world.  The  fine  fabrics  made  from  its  shaggy 
coat  gave  it  a  much  higher  value  in  the  eyes  of 


232  ESTEVAN. 

the  sagacious  monarch,  than  any  they  could  possi 
bly  possess  as  domestic  animals.  But  the  gold  and 
silver  ornaments,  and  the  wonderful  tale  which 
Pizarro  had  to  tell  of  the  abundance  of  precious^ 
metals,  satisfied  even  the  cravings  of  royal  cupidity. 
On  his  departure  from  Toledo,  Charles  V.  com 
mended  the  affairs  of  his  vassal  in  the  most  favor 
able  terms  to  the  consideration  of  the  Council  of 
the  Indies. 

Meanwhile  Estevan  seemed  partially  forgotten  by 
his  enemies.  He  sent  a  letter  to  Inez  and  received 
an  answer  in  which  she  stated  she  did  not  believe 
the  charges  against  him,  and  assured  him  of  her 
love.  He  determined  to  see  her  before  leaving 
Spain. 

The  business  of  Pizarro  went  forward  at  a  tardy 
pace,  and  he  found  his  limited  means  melting  away 
under  the  expenses  incurred  by  his  present  situa 
tion.  At  the  last  moment  the  queen,  who  had 
charge  of  the  business  in  her  husband's  absence,  in 
order  to  expedite  affairs,  on  the  twenty-sixth  of 
July,  1529,  executed  the  memorable  capitulation, 
which  defined  the  powers  and  privileges  of  Pizarro. 

According  to  the  stipulation  therein,  Pizarro 
was  to  receive  the  rank  of  governor  and  captain 
general  of  the  province,  together  with  those  of 
adelantada  and  alguacil  mayor  for  life,  and  an 
allowance  necessary  to  retain  suitable  military 


PIZAERO   AND    CORTEZ.  233 

officers.  Througliout  tlie  long,  tedious  negotia 
tions,  Estevan  was  with  Pizarro,  acting  as  his  pri 
vate  secretary  and  amanuensis.  Estevan  was  full 
of  buoyant  hope  and  eager  for  a  wild  life  of  adven 
ture.  When  all  was  completed,  Pizarro  and  Este 
van  set  out  for  the  former's  birthplace,  Truxillo  in 
Estremadura,  wrhere  he  would  be  most  likely  to 
meet  with  adherents  for  his  new  enterprise. 

No  doubt  Pizarro  made  this  visit  to  gratify  his 
vanity  by  displaying  himself  at  the  home  of  hum 
ble  childhood  in  the  promising  state  of  his  present 
circumstances.  If  vanity  was  ever  pardonable,  it 
certainly  was  so  in  this  man,  who,  born  in  an 
obscure  station  in  life,  without  family  interest  or 
friends  to  back  him,  had  carved  out  his  own  fortune 
in  the  world.  Pizarro  had  four  brothers,  all  of 
whom  were  poor,  but  proud  and  fond  of  adventure, 
and  they  were  easily  persuaded  to  enlist  in  his 
enterprise. 

While  at  Truxillo,  the  enemies  of  Estevan  dis 
covered  his  whereabouts  and  he  was  arrested  and 
thrown  into  prison.  The  authorities  deeming  all 
engaged  in  this  expedition  free  from  arrest,  he  was 
soon  released.  As  soon  as  he  regained  his  liberty^ 
Estevan  determined  to  pay  the  promised  visit  to 
Inez.  He  travelled  in  disguise,  heavily  armed, 
for  he  knew  that  his  subtle  foes  would  not  hesi 
tate  to  assassinate  him.  "When  the  vicinity  of 


234  ESTEVAN. 

Salamanca  was  reached,  he  did  not  allow  himself 
to  be  seen  by  daylight,  but  went  secretly  to  Father 
Philip  and  secured  his  assistance.  The  priest 
managed  to  convey  to  Inez  the  information  that 
Estevan  wished  to  meet  her  on  the  following  night 
beneath  a  large  tree  below  the  hill. 

When  the  appointed  hour  for  the  rendezvous 
came,  Estevan  with  trembling  limbs  and  palpitat 
ing  heart  wended  his  way  to  the  place.  The 
night  was  very  still.  Even  the  nightingale's  song 
was  hushed,  or  so  far  away  that  it  could  not  disturb 
the  lovers.  He  threw  himself  on  the  ground  and 
waited  impatiently.  Would  she  come?  Hark! 
what  was  that?  Surely  he  heard  footsteps. 
Starting  up,  he  saw  an  armed  man  approaching. 
Filled  with  alarm,  Estevan  laid  his  hand  on  his 
sword,  but  the  new-comer  spoke,  and  he  recognized 
in  him  faithful  Sancho,  the  guide  who  brought  him 
a  horse  and  led  him  in  his  flight  from  Salamanca. 

"I  came  to  see  if  you  were  here,"  he  said. 

"Who  sent  you?" 

"Dona  Inez." 

"Go  to  her,  Sancho,  and  tell  her  I  am  waiting." 

Sancho  went  back  toward  the  castle,  and  Este 
van  again  threw  himself  on  the  ground  and  clasped 
his  hands  over  his  heart  to  stop  its  wild  beating. 
Again  the  sound  of  footsteps  fell  upon  his  ear; 
this  time  the  tread  was  lighter  than  before. 


PIZARRO   AND    CORTEZ. 

"Is  she  coming?" 

She  was  coming,  he  knew  it,  and,  starting  to 
his  feet,  he  saw  a  beautiful  being  clad  in  white, 
moving  toward  him. 


MWlTH  A  UL.AU  CRY,   SHE  WAS  IN   HIS  ARMS. 


236  ESTEVAN. 

"Inez!" 

"Christopher!"  and,  with  a  glad  cry,  she  was  in 
his  arms.  For  a  moment  neither  spoke  a  word. 
After  a  while  he  regained  his  voice. 

"Inez,  you  have  heard  all?" 

"I  have,  and  I  believe  you  blameless." 

"  If  you  could  but  know  the  persecutions  to  which 
my  family  has  been  subjected,  you  would  under 
stand  why  I  was  outlawed.  I  am  going  away  to 
the  New  "World  with  Pizarro  to  Peru,  and  I  hope  to 
win  honors  and  gold  to  buy  the  friendship  of  the 
king." 

"We  go  also  to  the  New  World,"  said  Inez. 

"What!   Inez,   speak    again;  did  I    understand     '*" 
you?" 

"We  are  going  to  Panama.  My  uncle  is  already 
there,  and  through  him  father  has  purchased  large 
tracts  of  land.  He  has  consented  to  take  me 
with  him." 

"Heaven  be  praised!  We  both  shall  be  on  the 
same  continent.  When  will  you  sail?" 

"In  one  month." 

"  Then  you  will  come  on  the  fleet  that  follows 
ours,"  said  Estevan. 

"We  will-" 


CHAPTEK   XVI. 

RETURN    TO    THE    NEW    WORLD. 

THE  cannon  from  the  port  at  St.  Jago  boomed 
forth  the  arrival  of  a  ship  from  the  Old  World.  In 
a  moment  the  town  was  wild  with  excitement. 
What  vessel  was  it?  what  tidings  did  it  bring  from 
the  Old  World?  whose  friends  were  in  the  ship? 
were  the  questions  asked  by  nearly  every  one. 

The  boats  which  pulled  out  to  the  vessel  learned 
that  it  was  on  the  way  to  Darien  with  supplies  and 
recruits  for  Pizarro's  expedition. 

Among  the  first  to  disembark  was  a  handsome 
young  fellow  about  twenty  or  twenty-one  years  of 
age.  He  gazed  about,  from  right  to  left,  as  if  try 
ing  to  recognize  some  familiar  landmark,  and  then 
passed  quickly  up  into  the  town.  He  glanced  curi 
ously  at  the  faces  he  met  as  though  in  search  of  a 
friend.  Here  and  there  an  old  resident  would  give 
the  young  stranger  a  more  than  passing  glance, 
which  he  returned  with  a  nod  or  smile,  and  passed 
on  boldly  up  the  street  like  one  who  had  known 
the  place  all  his  life. 

237 


238  ESTEVAN. 

"Now  may  I  never  make  another  pun,  and  may 
I  forever  lose  my  wits  if  I  haven't  seen  that  face 
before,"  declared  Grerund  the  jester,  gazing  in  the 
young  man's  face. 

"  It  would  be  impossible  for  you  to  lose  your 
wits,  my  friend,"  answered  the  stranger  with  a 
smile. 

"Why  would  it,  my  merry  fellow?" 

"Because  you  have  none." 

"Well,  I  will  admit  that,  for  once,  Gerund  has 
been  worsted.  But,  pray  thee,  tell  me  who  you 
are?" 

The  stranger  was  not  ready  to  reveal  his  identity, 
and,  with  a  laugh,  hurried  through  the  town  into 
the  suburbs,  where  stood  a  stately  mansion. 

"Here,  as  elsewhere,  all  has  changed,"  he  said. 
"  The  forest,  so  grand  in  my  childhood,  has  shrunk 
farther  and  farther  away;  the  little  cottage  has 
grown  to  a  stately  mansion;  faces  once  so  familiar 
are  grown  out  of  recognition,  and  I  have  changed 
also,  for  no  one  knows  me.  Will  they  recognize 
me?" 

As  he  approached  the  mansion,  he  saw  a  white- 
haired  man,  with  a  cane,  walking  in  the  garden. 
He  had  all  the  bearing  of  a  veteran  soldier.  Years 
had  rolled  by  since  he  sailed  with  Cortez  to  con 
quer  Mexico.  The  tall,  handsome  young  fellow 
was  a  child  then.  The  white-haired  man  was  as- 


RETURN   TO    THE    NEW    WORLD.  239 

tounded  when  the  young  stranger  came  toward  him, 
and,  with  extended  arms,  cried: 

"Father!" 

The  soldier's  eyes  opened  wide,  and  he  gazed  at 
the  face  before  him. 

"My  son!  my  son!  can  this  be  my  little  Chris 
topher?"  he  exclaimed. 

"It  is,  father,  but  little  no  longer,"  answered 
Christopher,  embracing  him.  "I  am  now  grown 
to  be  a  man." 

"  I  have  been  so  long  accustomed  to  think  of 
you  as  the  little  boy  I  left  here  long  ago,  that  I 
can  hardly  realize  that  you  are  a  man.  Why  did 
you  leave  Spain?" 

"I  am  on  my  way  to  Peru,  father!" 

"And  have  you  given  up  your  studies?" 

"For  good  cause,  as  I  will  explain  in  time. 
Francisco  Pizarro  came  to  Spain  beating  up  re 
cruits  for  Peru,  and  I  am  going  with  him.  Our 
ship  touched  here  and  will  remain  a  few  days  to 
take  in  wood  and  water,  and  1  availed  myself  of 
the  opportunity  to  pay  you  a  visit." 

The  mother,  who  was  not  far  away,  heard  voices 
in  the  garden  and  went  to  see  who  was  there.  Her 
eyes  were  quick  to  recognize  in  that  tall,  manly 
stranger  her  first-born,  and  she  hurried  to  em 
brace  him  and  welcome  him  as  only  a  fond  mother 
can.  The  other  members  of  the  family  followed 


238  ESTEVAN. 

"Now  may  I  never  make  another  pun,  and  may 
I  forever  lose  my  wits  if  I  haven't  seen  that  face 
before,"  declared  Gerund  the  jester,  gazing  in  the 
young  man's  face.  --_,., 

"It  would  be  impossible  for  you  to  lose  your 
wits,  my  friend,"  answered  the  stranger  with  a 
smile. 

"Why  would  it,  my  merry  fellow?" 

"Because  you  have  none." 

"Well,  I  will  admit  that,  for  once,  Gerund  has 
been  worsted.  But,  pray  thee,  tell  me  who  you 
are?" 

The  stranger  was  not  ready  to  reveal  his  identity, 
and,  with  a  laugh,  hurried  through  the  town  into 
the  suburbs,  where  stood  a  stately  mansion. 

"Here,  as  elsewhere,  all  has  changed,"  he  said. 
"  The  forest,  so  grand  in  my  childhood,  has  shrunk 
farther  and  farther  away;  the  little  cottage  has 
grown  to  a  stately  mansion;  faces  once  so  familiar 
are  grown  out  of  recognition,  and  I  have  changed 
also,  for  no  one  knows  me.  Will  they  recognize 
me?" 

As  he  approached  the  mansion,  he  saw  a  white- 
haired  man,  with  a  cane,  walking  in  the  garden. 
He  had  all  the  bearing  of  a  veteran  soldier.  Years 
had  rolled  by  since  he  sailed  with  Cortez  to  con 
quer  Mexico.  The  tall,  handsome  young  fellow 
was  a  child  then.  The  white-haired  man  was  as- 


RETURN   TO    THE    NEW   WORLD.  239 

tounded  when  the  young  stranger  came  toward  him, 
and,  with  extended  arms,  cried: 

"Father!" 

The  soldier's  eyes  opened  wide,  and  he  gazed  at 
the  face  before  him. 

"My  son!  my  son!  can  this  be  my  little  Chris 
topher?"  he  exclaimed. 

"It  is,  father,  but  little  no  longer,"  answered 
Christopher,  embracing  him.  "I  am  now  grown 
to  be  a  man." 

"I  have  been  so  long  accustomed  to  think  of 
you  as  the  little  boy  I  left  here  long  ago,  that  I 
can  hardly  realize  that  you  are  a  man.  Why  did 
you  leave  Spain?" 

"I  am  on  my  way  to  Peru,  father!" 

"And  have  you  given  up  your  studies?" 

"For  good  cause,  as  I  will  explain  in  time. 
Francisco  Pizarro  came  to  Spain  beating  up  re 
cruits  for  Peru,  and  I  am  going  with  him.  Our 
ship  touched  here  and  will  remain  a  few  days  to 
take  in  wood  and  water,  and  1  availed  myself  of 
the  opportunity  to  pay  you  a  visit." 

The  mother,  who  was  not  far  away,  heard  voices 
in  the  garden  and  went  to  see  who  was  there.  Her 
eyes  wrere  quick  to  recognize  in  that  tall,  manly 
stranger  her  first-born,  and  she  hurried  to  em 
brace  him  and  welcome  him  as  only  a  fond  mother 
can.  The  other  members  of  the  family  followed 


340  ESTEVAK 

her  to  rejoice  over  the  arrival.  From  behind  one 
of  the  massive  columns  supporting  the  roof  of  the 
long  piazza,  he  caught  a  glimpse  of  a  slender  girl. 
The  loose,  straight  gown  of  the  period,  gathered,  at 
the  waist  with  cord  of  gold,  clung  to  her,  giving  a 
quaint,  nymph-like  contour  of  beauty.  A  casual 
observer  would  at  once  be  attracted  by  her  delicate 
profile  and  her  large,  dark  eyes.  Christopher 
Estevan  recognized  in  this  slender,  graceful,  olive-, 
cheeked  girl  his  adopted  sister,  Christoval  Balboa. 
One  glance,  and  Christopher  sprang  to  her  side  and 
seized  her  hand  before  she  could  escape. 

"Christoval,  Christoval,  don't  you  know  me? 
Don't  you  know  your  brother?" 

She  trembled  like  a  captive  bird,  and  Christo 
pher's  brotherly  kiss  seemed  to  set  her  cheek 
aflame;  her  breath  came  in  gasps,  and  she  looked 
as  if  she  would  faint. 

" It  is  your  brother  returned;  fear  not,  Christo 
val." 

She  gazed  at  him  with  her  great,  dark  eyes,  as 
if  she  feared  it  might  all  be  a  dream  from  which 
she  would  awake.  Before  long  she  was  suffi 
ciently  recovered  to  sit  at  his  side  on  the  rustic 
seat  and  hold  his  hand  in  her  own,  as  if  she 
feared  he  would  escape. 

Before  many  days  she  grew  reconciled  to  the 
change  in  her  brother,  and  again  they  wandered 


RETURN  TO  THE  NEW  WORLD. 


341 


among  old  familiar  scenes,  or  sat  on  the  beach  to 
hear  the  ocean's  roar.  He  told  her  much  of  the 
Old  World  which  she  was  destined  never  to  see;  of 
his  expulsion  from  Salamanca  and  the  attempt  to 


"YOU   ARE   GOING  AWAY   TO   PERU?" 

arrest  him;  but  he  told  no  one  of  Inez.  That 
was  a  secret  which  he  kept  safely  locked  up  in 
his  heart. 

"You  are  going  away  to  Peru?"  she  asked,  as 
they  sat  on  the  great  stone  on  the  beach. 
16 


242  ESTEVAN. 

"I  am,"  he  answered. 

For  a  long  time  both  were  silent.  The  surf 
dashed  mournfully  upon  the  sands  and  the  pebbles 
glistened  in  the  sun ;  while  in  the  distance  porpofses^. 
could  be  seen  sporting  in  the  water.  Sea-fowls 
soared  in  the  air  above,  and  from  afar  came  the 
subdued  sounds  of  life  in  the  town.  Christoval 
heaved  a  sigh,  and  a  look  of  sadness  came  over 
her  face. 

"Don't  you  want  me  to  go?"  he  asked. 

"No." 

Another   mournful    silence  of  shorter  duration 
followed,  which  was  broken  by  Christoval  saying:    . 
"What  matters  it  to  me?     I  am  only  an  Indian." 

"Christoval — sister,  don't  use  that  term  in  self- 
reproach,  for  the  best  blood  of  Spain  flows  in  your 
veins.  Your  father  made  a  name  which  will  last 
through  all  time.  Has  any  one  reproached  you 
on  account  of  your  Lidian  blood?" 

"No." 

"Have  we  not  always  been  kind  to  you?" 

"Forgive  me;  I  am  very  ungrateful.  It  is 
perhaps  my  proud  Indian  blood  which  makes  me 
so;  but  I  see  my  mother's  race  conquered,  humili 
ated,  and  enslaved,  and  feelings  of  bitterness  will 
arise  in  my  heart." 

"You  have  done  nothing  to  be  forgiven,"  he 
answered.  Then  she  grew  more  cheerful,  and  they 


RETURN   TO    THE  NEW   WORLD.  243 

discussed  the  coming  conquest  and  Estevan's  pros 
pects  for  bettering  liis  fortune. 

"There  are  great  dangers  in  the  path  of  the  man 
who  would  conquer  Peru,"  said  Chnstoval. 

"I  realize  them  all,"  he  answered. 

"Do  you  remember  the  stories  told  by  Zuna,  the 
old  woman  of  the  cave,  of  rivers  infested  with 
dragons,  of  huge  birds  with  human  faces,  which 
feed  on  people?  Did  she  not  speak  of  mountains 
of  flame,  and  gulfs  that  would  swallow  up  ar 
mies?" 

"  Yes,  and  she  told  of  cities  of  gold,  of  splendor 
such  as  kings  might  envy,  of  such  fabulous  wealth 
as  the  world  has  never  known.  Who  deserves  the 
wealth  of  the  heathen  more  than  those  who  came 
to  spread  the  Gospel  among  them?" 

The  Spanish  conqueror  was  a  religious  robber. 
Mingled  with  the  idea  of  conquest  and  gold  was  the 
one  thought  of  extending  the  dominion  of  the  Cross. 
The  Spaniard  was  ever  a  Crusader.  He  was,  in  the 
sixteenth  century,  what  Coeur  de  Lion  and  his  brave 
followers  were  in  the  twelfth,  with  this  difference: 
the  cavalier  of  the  earlier  period  fought  for  the 
Cross  and  glory;  while  gold  and  the  Cross  became 
the  watchwords  of  the  Spaniards.  The  spirit  of 
chivalry  somewhat  waned  before  the  spirit  of  gain; 
but  the  fire  of  religious  enthusiasm  burned  as 
brightly  under  the  quilted  mail  of  the  American 


246  ESTEVAN. 

almost  gave  way.  Her  heart  beat  wildly  and  her 
face  glowed  as  it  never  had  before.  When  alone 
in  her  room  that  night,  the  senorita  fell  on  her 
knees  and  thanked  the  Holy  Virgin  that  she  liad 
lived  to  enjoy  this  hour. 

"  He  loves  me,  he  told  me  so,  and  his  lips  would 
not  lie,"  the  poor,  deluded  girl  sobbed  in  her  joy. 
"Cortez  loved  Marina,  and  he  loves  me.  He 
loves  me  as  Balboa  loved  Fulvia.  Oh,  this  hour 
of  bliss  repays  for  ages  of  torment!"  She  was  in 
a  state  of  excitement,  her  hands  were  firmly  clasped 
and  she  rocked  her  body  from  side  to  side. 

"He  is  going  away!"  and  she  started  again  to 
her  feet.     "Thousands  have  gone  to  those  far-off     » 
lands  and  never  returned.      He  may  sink  down  in 
battle,  or  perish  by  disease,  but  he  loves  me.      Yes, 
even  in  death,  he  will  be  mine." 

"While  Estevan  slept  the  sweet  sleep  of  peace 
and  dreamed  of  Inez  in  far-off  Spain,  Christoval 
Balboa  stole  with  noiseless  feet  to  his  bedside,  and, 
bending  over  him,  pressed  her  cold  lips  so  gently 
to  his  forehead  that  the  sleeper  imagined  it  a  pass 
ing  zephyr. 

Estevan  was  destined  not  to  remain  long  at 
home.  His  ship  was  still  detained  at  St.  Jago 
taking  supplies  and  beating  up  recruits,  when  an 
other  came  from  Spain,  bringing  Antonio  Velas 
quez.  He  landed  in  great  pomp  and  was  greeted 


RETURN   TO    THE  NEW   WORLD.  247 

by  relatives  and  friends  congratulating  him  on  his 
return.  He  was  not  long  in  St.  Jago  when  he 
learned  that  Estevan  and  his  father  were  both  on 
the  island.  By  some  fatal  oversight  the  pardon 
for  Hernando  Estevan  did  not  include  his  son 
Christopher.  Antonio  was  not  long  in  inducing 
the  governor  to  issue  a  new  warrant  for  the  arrest 
of  his  rival. 

Christoval  was  wandering  alone  in  the  grove  on 
the  hill,  when  she  discovered  Gerund  the  jester 
coming  toward  her  at  a  run.  His  usually  jolly 
face  wore  an  expression  of  alarm  and  anxiety. 

"I  have  bad  news,  Christoval,"  he  said  ex 
citedly.  "By  the  mass!  it  would  be  more  glori 
ous  if  it  were  my  funeral."  Then  the  fellow  told 
her  of  Antonio's  arrival  and  the  issuing  of  the 
warrant  for  the  arrest  of  Christopher  Estevan, 
which  a  party  of  soldiers  were  to  execute  that  very 
night.  His  movements  were  to  be  closely  watched 
and  he  would  be  slain  if  he  made  an  effort  to  es 
cape. 

The  Indian  girl  listened  with  the  stoicism  of  her 
mother's  race.  She  resolved  at  once  upon  a  plan 
to  save  the  man  whom  she  loved  more  than  life. 
She  ran  to  a  hut  on  the  coast  two  miles  above, 
where  dwelt  some  humble  fishermen,  under  obliga 
tion  to  her  for  past  kindness,  and  persuaded  them 
to  seize  a  small  caravel,  and  at  midnight  await  off 


248  ESTEVAN. 

a  point  of  rocks  for  the  fugitive.  This  done,  she 
hastened  home,  reaching  the  house  at  dusk,  and 
found  Estevan  in  the  garden. 

"You  must  go,  fly  with  me  at  once,"  she  whis 
pered,  seizing  his  arm. 

"Why?"  Estevan  asked,  fearing  she  had  lost 
her  reason. 

"Your  life  is  in  danger,  they  are  coming  to  kill 
you.  Antonio  has  landed  and  procured  a  warrant 
for  you,  and  is  coming  with  soldiers  to  arrest  or 
slay  you." 

"My  father  and  I  were  pardoned  by  the  king's 
proclamation." 

"Only  your  father  was  pardoned." 

Estevan  realized  his  danger.  By  this  time  it 
had  grown  quite  dark,  and  the  clank  of  arms  could 
be  heard  down  the  street.  A  deed  too  heinous  for 
light  of  day  was  to  be  done  under  cover  of  dark 
ness.  There  was  not  a  moment  to  lose.  He  dared 
not  wait  to  secure  arms  or  bid  parents  adieu. 

"You  must  go  at  once,"  whispered  the  Indian 
senorita,  "a  moment  lost  and  distruction  is  certain. 
Come,  I  will  lead  you  to  safety,  and,  returning, 
explain  all." 

She  took  his  hand  and  led  him  through  the 
arbor,  down  an  avenue  of  trees,  and  entered  a  dense 
forest.  From  this  they  discended  into  a  ravine  and 
followed  it  until  the  roar  of  beating  surf  fell  on 


RETURN  TO   THE  NEW   WORLD.  249 

their  ears.  Almost  before  he  was  aware  of  it  they 
had  gained  the  point  of  rocks,  and  a  boat  awaiting 
him  bore  him  away  to  the  caravel.  Christoval 
Balboa,  with  tear-dimmed  eyes,  stood  on  the  great 
rock  watching  the  caravel  bound  over  the  waves 
bearing  him  she  loved  to  Panama  and  adventures 
and  dangers  greater  than  she  imagined. 


CHAPTER  XVH. 

A   MYSTERIOUS   FRIEND. 

THE  first  arrival  of  white  men  on  the  South 
American  shore  was  nearly  ten  years  before  the 
death  of  a  powerful  Inca  named  Huajma  Capac, 
when  Balboa  crossed  the  Gulf  of  St.  Michael  and 
obtained  the  first  clear  report  of  the  empire  of  the 
Incas.  Hitherto  this  powerful  nation,  the  farthest 
advanced  in  civilization  of  any  tribe  on  the  western 
continent,  had  lived  in  its  secure  retreat  unknown 
to  the  European.  Rumors  of  pale  men,  charged 
with  thunder  and  lightning,  breathing  death  and 
destruction,  and  riding  terrible  life-destroying 
beasts,  reached  their  ears  and  filled  the  breast  of 
the  Inca  and  his  nobles  with  alarm.  Huayna 
Capac  was  disturbed  not  only  by  this  news,  but 
by  the  many  supernatural  appearances  which  filled 
the  whole  nation  with  dismay.  Comets  were  seen 
flaming  athwart  the  heavens;  earthquakes  shook 
the  land;  the  moon  was  girdled  with  rings  of  fire 
of  many  colors;  a  thunderbolt  fell  on  one  of  the 
royal  palaces  and  consumed  it  to  ashes,  and  an 

250 


A   MYSTERIOUS   FRIEND.  251 

eagle,  chased  by  several  hawks,  was  seen  one  day 
screaming  in  the  air  above  the  great  square  of 
Cuzco.  When  pierced  by  the  talons  of  his  tor 
mentors,  the  king  of  birds  fell  lifeless  in  the  pres 
ence  of  the  Inca's  nobles,  who  interpreted  it  as  an 
augury  of  their  own  destruction.  Believing  his 
end  to  be  drawing  near,  the  Inca  called  his  chief 
officers  about  him,  and  prophesied  the  downfall  of 
his  empire  by  a  race  of  white  and  bearded  strangers, 
as  the  consummation  predicted  by  the  oracles  after 
the  reign  of  the  twelfth  Inca.  Thereupon  he 
warned  his  vassals  not  to  resist  the  decrees  of 
heaven. 

On  a  former  visit  to  Tumbez,  Pizarro  brought 
back  with  him  two  or  three  Peruvians  to  be  in 
structed  in  Spanish  and  to  act  as  guides  and  inter 
preters.  Among  them  was  a  youth  whom  the 
Spaniards  named  Felipillo,  or  "Little  Philip." 
Not  having  time,  and,  in  fact,  not  being  competent 
to  instruct  the  Peruvians  himself,  Pizarro  entrusted 
that  duty  to  others,  and  Felipillo  proved  to  be  an 
apt  scholar.  By  the  time  Pizarro  returned  to 
Panama  to  push  matters  for  the  final  invasion, 
Felipillo  had  almost  mastered  the  tongue  of  his 
conquerors. 

"I  know  enough  Spanish  now  to  talk  with  you, 
and  I  want  to  tell  my  story,"  he  said,  one  day,  to 
Pizarro. 


252  ESTEVAN. 

Knowing  that  he  might  have  some  valuable  in 
formation  to  impart,  Pizarro  bade  him  proceed,  as 
he  would  gladly  hear  anything  he  had  to  say. 

"I  have  heard  that  you  are  going  to  Peru  to  de-^ 
throne  the  Inca  Atahualpa,  now  at  war  with  his 
brother  Huascar,  whose  power  he  usurped.  If 
such  is  the  case,  great  captain,  I  will  gladly  join 
you  in  slaying  the  bold,  bad  man." 

"Do  you  hate  him,  Felipillo?" 

"I  have  cause  to  hate  him." 

"Why?" 

"Lend  an  ear  to  me,  great  captain,  and  I  will 
tell  you  rny  story.  I  once  lived  happily  in  Peru 
in  my  mountain  home  on  the  great  road  not  far 
from  Caxarnalca.  I  loved  a  Peruvian  maiden ;  she 
loved  me  and  was  to  become  my  wife,  but  one  day 
the  evil  eye  of  the  Inca  Atahualpa  fell  on  her  and 
from  that  moment  we  were  doomed.  He  deter 
mined  to  make  her  another  victim  of  his  infernal 
harem,  where  so  much  of  the  beauty  of  Peru  lan 
guishes.  I  protested,  but  was  declared  an  outlaw, 
and  driven  to  the  forests,  where  for  days  I  lived 
like  a  wild  beast,  hunted  day  and  night  by  the 
Inca's  spies.  I  made  my  way  to  Tumbez,  and,  after 
a  hundred  hair-breadth  escapes,  was  leaving  the 
country  in  a  balsa,  when  you  found  me.  Mean 
while  my  beautiful  Pruilla  was  seized  and  carried 
away  to  the  harem  of  the  hated  Inca.  When  I 


A   MYSTERIOUS   FRIEND.  253 

met  you,  I  thought,  'Here  are  the  pale  men  charged 
with  thunder  and  lightning,  who  breathe  destruc 
tion,  and  bestride  those  life-destroying  beasts.  If  I 
can  but  enlist  them  in  my  cause,  I  can  invade  the 
country  of  the  cruel  Atahualpa,  slay  him  in  his 
palace,  and  recover  my  beautiful  Pruilla,  for  the 
Inca  dare  not  resist  the  pale  men  from  the  unknown 
world." 

Pizarro,  shrewd  old  warrior  that  he  was,  realized 
that  here  was  an  opportunity  to  secure  a  faithful 
ally.  There  was  a  flash  in  the  Peruvian's  eye  and 
an  earnestness  in  his  voice  which  proved  that  his 
story  was  no  idle  romance.  Felipillo  was  more 
anxious  for  the  overthrow  of  the  Peruvian  empire 
than  any  steel-clad  warrior  from  Spain.  The 
general  assured  him  that  Pruilla  should  be  restored 
to  him,  and  the  face  of  the  Peruvian  glowed  with 
delight. 

During  preparations  for  the  expedition  to  Peru, 
Estevan  reached  Panama,  about  the  latter  part  of 
December,  1530.  He  had  escaped  his  foes  in 
Cuba,  and,  being  with  Pizarro,  he  was  now  per 
fectly  safe  from  their  machinations.  A  few  days 
later  supplies  and  recruits  from  the  ship  which  had 
touched  at  Cuba  arrived.  Many  Cubans,  some 
Spaniards,  and  some  Indians  had  joined  the  expe 
dition.  Among  the  recruits  was  an  olive-com- 
plexioned  boy,  a  very  quiet  young  fellow,  named 


254  ESTEVAN. 

Nicosia.  Although  he  spoke  Spanish  quite  fluent 
ly,  there  was  evidently  a  dash  of  Moorish  or  Indian 
blood  in  his  veins.  Estevan  asked  the  captain  of 
the  ship  from  whence  the  young  fellow  came. 

"Cuba,"  was  the  answer.  "On  the  morning 
we  sailed  from  St.  Jago,  a  boat,  manned  by  some 
fishermen,  came  alongside  our  ship.  They  hailed 
us  and  put  this  boy  on  board.  I  asked  him  where 
he  was  going,  and  he  said,  'To  join  Francisco 
Pizarro. '  I  brought  him,  though  I  believe  the 
general  will  reject  him  on  account  of  his  extreme 
youth." 

When  the  forces  of  Pizarro  were  mustered  for  . 
the  last  grand  review,  the  veteran  warrior  went 
from  man  to  man,  giving  each  a  critical  examina 
tion.  He  alone  knew  what  was  to  be  borne  by 
that  devoted  band,  and  he  realized  that  it  required 
nerves  and  sinews  of  steel  to  endure  the  dangers 
and  hardships  in  store  for  them.  When  he  came 
to  the  dark  youth,  he  paused,  and  gazed  fixedly 
into  his  eyes. 

"Who  are  you,  child?"  he  asked. 

"Nicosia,  from  Cuba." 

"Why  are  you  here?" 

"I  am  going  to  conquer  Caxamalca." 

"By  the  holy  war!  I  like  your  spirit,"  returned 
the  battle-scarred  Pizarro,  and.  then  to  the  surprise 
of  every  one,  who  expected  to  see  Nicosia  rejected, 


A    MYSTERIOUS    FRIEND.  255 

he  passed  him  by.  There  was  something  daring 
in  the  young  fellow's  manner,  which  pleased 
Pizarro. 

Nicosia  was  quiet  and  retired,  mingling  little 
with  those  in  camp.  He  kept  aloof  from  the  carou 
sals  and  brawls  in  which  the  Spaniards  indulged. 
He  lacked  skill  in  the  use  of  arms  at  first;  but  so 
diligently  did  he  apply  himself  in  acquiring  the  art, 
that  before  many  weeks  he  was  an  adept  with  the 
slender  sword  and  crossbow.  He  had  not  been 
long  in  the  army,  when  he  formed  the  acquaintance 
of  Estevan,  who  became  his  tutor  in  the  use  of 
arms. 

"I  want  to  be  with  you,"  said  Nicosia  one  day 
at  the  conclusion  of  a  fencing  match.  "  I  want  to 
be  your  comrade  in  arms,  and  march  at  your  side 
through  the  dangers  we  are  to  encounter." 

"lam  willing,"  Estevan  answered.  "Though 
I  have  known  you  but  a  few  weeks,  I  like  you." 

The  ship  which  was  to  bear  Inez  to  the  Isthmus 
had  not  yet  arrived.  Day  by  day  Estevan  ex 
pected  Don  Oviedo  and  his  daughter  at  Panama, 
but  was  disappointed.  Preparations  for  the  de 
parture  of  the  little  army  upon  their  terrible  expedi 
tion  were  pushed  forward  writh  all  possible  speed, 
and  Estevan  feared  they  would  not  arrive  before 
his  departure.  Early  in  January,  1531,  Pizarro 
was  ready  to  sail  on  his  third  and  last  expedition 


256  ESTEVAN. 

for  the  conquest  of  Peru,  and  nothing  had  yet  been 
heard  from  the  ship  which  was  to  bring  Don 
Oviedo  and  his  daughter  to  Darien.  Estevan  had 
to  give  it  up  and  depart  without  a  last  interview 
with  Inez. 

Pizarro's  army  for  this  stupendous  enterprise 
consisted  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  men,  with 
twenty-seven  horses  for  cavalry.  His  fleet  was 
composed  of  three  vessels,  two  of  them  of  good 
size.  Like  his  cousin  Cortez,  Pizarro  was  a  shrewd 
politician,  and,  knowing  that  there  wyere  dissen 
sions  and  civil  wars  among  the  Peruvians,  he 
determined  to  take  ad  vantage  of  their  division.  A 
united  Peru  could  have  defeated  a  much  larger  * 
force  than  he  brought  with  him;  but  with  one  half 
arrayed  against  the  other  and  ready  to  join  the 
invader  to  crush  their  brothers,  the  scheme  of  con 
quest  was  practical. 

As  the  vessels  sailed  away  from  Panama,  Este 
van  stood  leaning  against  the  bulwark,  gazing  off 
at  the  fast  receding  shore. 

"Will  I  ever  return?  will  I  ever  see  her  again?" 
he  murmured,  half  aloud. 

"The  blessed  Virgin  grant  you  may!"  a  voice  at 
his  side  answered,  and,  turning,  he  beheld  his 
mysterious  friend  Nicosia.  Before  Estevan  could 
utter  a  word,  the  young  fellow,  overwhelmed  with 
confusion,  turned  and  went  away. 


A   MYSTERIOUS    FRIEND.  257 

"lie  is  a  strange  fellow,"  thought  the  youthful 
adventurer.  It  was  many  hours  before  his  friend 
rejoined  him. 

The  fleet  was  headed  for  Tumbez,  which  promised 
such  magnificent  treasure;  but,  as  usual,  head 
winds  and  currents  baffled  the  purpose  of  Pizarro, 
and  after  a  run  of  thirteen  days,  much  shorter  than 
the  period  formerly  required  for  the  same  distance, 
the  little  squadron  came  to  anchor  in  the  bay  of  St. 
Mathew,  about  one  degree  north.  After  a  consul 
tation  with  his  officers,  Pizarro  resolved  to  disem 
bark  his  forces  at  this  place  and  advance  along  the 
coast,  while  the  vessels  held  their  course  at  a  con 
venient  distance  from  land.  Estevan  was  among 
the  first  to  land  and  begin  the  march,  which  was 
painful  in  the  extreme.  The  road  was  intersected 
by  streams,  which,  swollen  by  the  winter  rains, 
widened  at  their  mouths  into  spacious  estuaries. 
Pizarro,  having  some  previous  knowledge  of  the 
country,  acted  both  as  commander  and  guide. 
Reaching  the  first  hamlet  without  being  seen,  the 
Spaniards  charged  into  it,  uttering  their  battle-cry. 
So  sudden  was  their  appearance,  and  so  rapid  the 
flight  of  the  natives,  that  they  failed  to  carry  away 
with  them  their  gold  and  jewels,  which  were  found 
in  great  abundance  in  the  cabins.  The  gold  and 
silver  ornaments  were  gathered  from  the  buildings, 
and  piled  in  a  heap.  After  setting  apart  one-fifth 
17 


258  ESTEVAN. 

for  the  crown,  according  to  the  stipulation  with 
Columbus  and  all  subsequent  explorers,  the  re 
mainder  was  divided  among  the  soldiers. 

Having  refreshed  his  men,  Pizarro  contiriuedjiis 
march  along  the  coast,  but  no  longer  accompanied* 
by  his  vessels,  which  returned  to  Panama  for  re 
cruits.  As  they  advanced,  the  road  was  broken 
with  strips  of  sandy  waste,  and  the  sand,  drifted 
about  by  the  winds,  almost  blinded  the  soldiers, 
and  afforded  a  treacherous  footing  for  man  and 
beast.  The  glare  was  intense,  and  the  rays  of  a 
vertical  sun  beat  so  fiercely  on  the  iron  mail  and 
thickly  quilted  doublets  of  the  soldiers  that  they 
were  almost  suffocated.  To  add  greatly  to  their  - 
distress,  a  strange  epidemic  broke  out  in  the  little 
army.  It  took  the  form  of  hideous  warts  of  enor 
mous  size,  wrhich  covered  the  body,  and  when 
lanced,  as  was  the  case  with  some,  such  a  quantity 
of  blood  escaped  that  the  sufferer  died.  Pizarro 
lost  several  of  his  men  by  this  frightful  disorder. 
It  was  so  sudden  in  its  attack,  and  attended  with 
such  prostration,  that  those  who  lay  down  at  night 
were  frequently  unable  to  lift  a  hand  the  next 
morning. 

Estevan  was  among  those  who  were  stricken. 
Nicosia,  his  comrade,  remained  at  his  side  and 
ministered  to  his  wants.  After  two  days  he  was 
able  to  follow  the  army,  but  was  so  weak  that  he 


A    MYSTERIOUS   FRIEND. 


259 


fell  behind,  and  at  nightfall  the  army  was  out  of 
sight.  Nicosia  spoke  words  of  cheer  and  refused 
to  leave  him,  even  to  save  his  own  life.  In  the 
dead  of  night  they  were  roused  by  a  terrible  roar, 
and  an  animal  which  they  thought  to  be  a  tiger, 


but  which  was  probably 

a  jaguar,  suddenly  burst 

through  the  underbrush 

and  crouched  near  them 

for  a  spring.      Estevan, 

too    feeble    to    raise    a 

weapon,  sank  powerless 

to  the  earth.      Nicosia  flung  some  faggots  on  the 

smouldering  fire  to  make  it  burn  up  brilliantly, 

raised  his  shield  so  as  to  protect  his  breast,  drew 

his  keen  sword  and  advanced  toward   the  beast. 


NICOSIA    ADVANCED    TOWARD 
THE  BEAST." 


260  ESTEVAN. 

Either  the  fire-light,  the  secret  power  in  the  eyes 
of  the  youth,  or  the  gleaming  blade  made  the  beast 
cower  before  him,  and  retire  with  growls  into  the 
woods. 

Next  day  Estevan  was  better  and  they  rejoined 
the  army.  He  was  mounted  on  a  horse  and  thus 
enabled  to  keep  up  with  the  others.  The  little 
army  had  suffered  frightfully  and  all  were  growing 
discouraged,  when  they  were  suddenly  gladdened 
by  sight  of  a  vessel  from  Panama  with  supplies 
and  reinforcements.  From  these  Estevan  hoped 
to  receive  some  news  of  Inez;  but  although  one  of 
the  recruits  had  seen  Don  Oviedo,  who  had  arrived  , 

« 

at  Panama  two  days  after  the  departure  of  Pizarro, 
he  knew  nothing  of  his  daughter,  and  was  quite 
sure  she  had  not  accompanied  him.  Recruits  from 
Spam  were  also  sure  she  was  not  there;  then  where 
was  she? 

"Would  to  heaven  I  could  have  seen  her  before 
leaving  Panama,"  Estevan  thought,  and  he  sighed 
in  his  perplexity. 

But  the  ambitious,  restless  Pizarro  gave  him 
little  time  for  sighs  and  regrets.  They  pressed 
on  over  a  country  which  became  less  sandy  and 
more  fertile.  Some  of  the  Spaniards  wanted  to 
halt  and  establish  a  colony,  but  Pizarro  was  more 
intent  on  conquest,  and  pushed  on  toward  Tum- 
bez.  He  made  his  first  halt  at  the  island  of  Puna 


A   MYSTERIOUS    FRIEND.  261 

in  the  Gulf  of  Guayaquil  at  no  great  distance  from 
the  Bay  of  Tumbez,  where  he  rallied  his  forces, 
and  prepared  to  make  his  descent  on  the  Indian 
•city. 

They  had  not  long  been  here  before  a  deputation 
of  natives  with  their  caciques  at  their  head  crossed 
over  in  their  balsas  from  the  mainland  to  welcome 
the  Spaniards.  Felipillo  put  the  general  on  his 
guard  and  warned  him  against  treachery,  and 
Pizarro  arrested  some  of  the  caciques.  This  so 
enraged  the  people  of  Puna  that  they  sprang  to 
arms  and  assailed  the  Spanish  camp.  Though  the 
odds  were  greatly  against  the  Spaniards,  they  made 
up  in  arms  and  discipline  what  they  lacked  in  num 
bers. 

Estevan  was  a  little  apart  from  the  others,  and 
in  a  moment  was  surrounded  by  howling  and 
screeching  foes.  He  drew  his  sword  and  fought 
as  best  he  could;  but  would  have  been  soon  over 
powered,  had  not  a  horseman,  with  lance  in  rest, 
bore  down  on  the  group,  scattering  them  like  chaff 
before  a  whirlwind.  Pizarro,  at  the  head  of  the 
cavalry,  put  the  Indians  to  rout,  and  then  gave 
his  attention  to  landing  his  forces  at  Tumbez.  This 
port  was  but  a  few  leagues  distant,  and  he  crossed 
over  with  his  mam  force  in  the  ships,  leaving  a 
few  men  to  transport  the  baggage  and  military 
stores  in  balsas. 


262  ESTEVAN. 

The  first  balsa  that  landed,  some  distance  ahead 
of  the  others,  was  surrounded  by  the  natives,  and 
the  three  persons  on  it  taken  into  the  woods  and 
brained  with  war-clubs.  The  second  balsa'  ^vas.  jn 
command  of  Estevan,  with  seven  men  guarding* 
Pizarro's  wardrobe.  It  was  also  assailed  the  mo 
ment  it  touched  the  shore. 

Pizarro,  with  a  dozen  mounted  men,  among 
whom  was  Nicosia,  had  landed  a  little  lower  down 
the  beach.  Estevan' s  party  had  four  guns  among 
them,  and,  as  the  savages  advanced,  they  lighted 
their  matches  and  fired  a  volley  at  them,  bringing 
down  two  or  three.  The  rest  they  attacked  with 
pikes  and  battle-axes. 

"Look!  they  are  in  danger,  general!''  cried 
Nicosia,  as  the  report  of  matchlocks  reached  his 
ears. 

"Santiago!"  cried  Pizarro,  and  away  went  the 
cavalry,  Nicosia  and  Pizarro  riding  neck  and  neck. 
A  broad  tract  of  miry  ground,  overflowed  at 
high  tide,  lay  between  the  cavalry  and  the  party 
threatened.  The  tide  was  out  and  the  bottom 
soft  and  dangerous.  With  little  regard  for  peril, 
however,  the  bold  cavaliers  spurred  their  horses  into 
the  slimy  depths,  and,  with  mud  up  to  their  saddle 
girths,  plunged  forward  into  the  midst  of  the 
natives,  who,  terrified  at  the  strange  apparition, 
fled  precipitately  to  the  forest. 


A    MYSTERIOUS   FRIEND.  263 

On  reaching  Tumbez  the  town  was  found  de 
serted,  the  houses  demolished,  and  almost  wholly 
stripped  of  interior  decorations  of  gold  and  orna 
ments.  The  soldiers  were  quite  cast  down  over 
the  disappointment.  Instead  of  the  fabulous 
wealth  of  Tumbez,  so  graphically  described  to 
them  by  the  natives,  they  found  only  barren  walls 
and  ruins. 

While  wandering  about  the  city,  Estevan  sud 
denly  met  an  old  Indian  who  had  a  scroll  of  paper 
in  his  hand.  He  gave  it  to  the  young  cavalier 
without  a  word  and  disappeared.  Hastily  unroll 
ing  the  paper  so  mysteriously  handed  him,  Este 
van  read  as  follows: 

"Know,  whoever  you  may  be  that  may  set  foot  in  this 
country,  that  it  contains  more  gold  than  there  is  iron  in 
Biscay. " 

He  took  the  paper  to  Pizarro,  who  caused  it  to 
be  read  to  the  soldiers.  The  document  was  evi 
dently  written  by  one  of  the  Spaniards  who  had 
been  left  at  the  town  on  a  former  visit.  The 
soldiers,  however,  treated  it  as  a  cunning  device 
by  the  general  to  arouse  their  hopes. 

"What  do  you  think  of  the  mysterious  scroll, 
Nicosia?"  Estevan  asked  his  mysterious  friend. 

"I  believe  every  word  it  contains  to  be  true."  he 
answered, 


264  ESTEVAN. 

There  came  with  Pizarro  to  Peru,  a  Spanish 
cavalier  destined  to  make  a  name  that  will  live  as 
long  as  the  history  of  the  United  States  of 
America  shall  be  read.  His  name  was  Hernando 
de  Soto.  He  was  a  young,  daring  fellow,  with  a 
mind  combining  many  noble  qualities.  He  was 
ambitious,  brave  as  a  lion,  and  possessed  excellent 
judgment.  Without  him  it  is  doubtful  if  Pizarro 
would  have  succeeded  in  his  conquest.  He  early 
formed  a  strong  attachment  for  Estevan  and  next 
to  Nicosia  seemed  his  best  friend. 

Pizarro  wanted  a  small  party  of  horse  to  explore 
the  wooded  skirts  of  the  vast  sierra  on  the  east  and 
south,  and  De  Soto  and  Estevan  were  selected  to 
lead  the  expedition.  Nicosia  asked  to  become  one 
of  the  party,  but  Pizarro  refused  his  request.  De 
Soto  watched  the  expression  on  his  face  as  he 
turned  away,  and,  as  the  party  rode  toward  the 
Andes,  he  asked  Estevan: 

"How  long  have  you  known  Nicosia?" 

"I  met  him  first  at  Panama." 

"There  is  some  deep  mystery  about  him." 

"There  is." 

"Can  you  guess  what  it  is?" 

"No." 

They  did  not  discuss  the  subject  further,  for 
there  seemed  no  key  to  the  solution  of  the  problem. 
In  all  their  journey  toward  the  foot-hills  of  the 


A   MYSTERIOUS   FRIEND.  265 

Andes  the  matter  was  not  mentioned  again.  They 
were  destined  to  be  the  first  white  men  to  gaze  on 
the  wonders  of  Peruvian  scenery,  and  for  days 
they  wandered  through  forests,  beneath  giant 
branches,  through  which  the  mountain  winds  swept 
in  a  weird  and  solemn  symphony.  A  few  savages 
were  seen ;  but  they  fled  into  deeper  forests  at  sight 
of  the  strangers.  De  Soto  returned  and  made  a 
report  to  Pizarro  of  what  he  had  seen.  After 
spending  some  time  in  reconnoitering  the  country, 
Pizarro  came  to  the  conclusion  that  the  most  suit 
able  place  for  a  settlement  was  in  the  rich  valley 
of  Tangarala,  thirty  leagues  south  of  Tumbez,  and 
traversed  by  streams  which  communicated  with 
the  ocean. 

To  this  spot  the  army  repaired,  and  with  great 
ceremony  began  building  the  first  town  of  the 
Europeans  in  Peru.  Pizarro  named  the  town  San 
Miguel.  Here  he  rested  for  some  time  with  his 
troops,  preparatory  to  his  great  achievement. 

Estevan  still  lived  in  the  hope  that  some  ship 
from  Panama  would  bring  him  tidings  of  Inez;  but 
he  was  still  doomed  to  disappointment.  His  mys 
terious  friend  Nicosia  noted  his  drooping  spirits 
and  became  serious  on  his  account.  He  knew  not 
the  cause  of  Estevan' s  despondency,  for,  lover-like, 
the  young  cavalier  kept  his  secret  safely  locked  in 
his  breast. 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

A   CITY    OF   GOLD. 

THE  time  had  come  for  the  Spaniards  to  cross 
the  Andes  and  march  to  the  interior.  Caxamalca 
and  Cuzco,  the  dream  of  the  conqueror's  life,  la}7 
beyond  those  snow-capped  mountains.  Their 
march  had,  hitherto,  been  along  roads  where  they 
could  occasionally  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  broad  and 
lovely  sea.  It  was  with  a  sigh  of  deep  regret  that 
Estevan  heard  of  the  intended  march  across  those 
wonderful  mountains;  not  that  he  dreaded  the 
journey,  for  he  loved  to  explore  great,  unknown 
wilds,  and  there  were  no  heights  he  would  not  dare 
climb,  and  no  depths  he  would  not  descend,  in 
search  of  the  wonders  and  wealth  of  the  earth; 
but  not  a  word  had  he  received  from  Inez  since 
leaving  Spain,  and  he  began  to  entertain  fears  that 
he  was  forgotten.  Perhaps,  after  all,  Antonio 
might  have  won  her  from  him.  But  for  fear  of 
being  branded  a  coward  he  would  have  left  Pizarro 
and  returned  to  Panama. 

One  evening,  late  in  September,  De  Soto  came 
266 


A    CITY   OF   GOLD.  267 

to  the  tent  in  which  Estevan  and  Nicosia  were 
sitting. 

"To-morrow  we  leave  San  Miguel  for  Caxa- 
malca,"  he  said. 

Estevan  made  no  response.  Although  every 
step  across  those  mountains  took  him  further  from 
Panama  and  Inez,  yet  he  was  tired  of  inactivity, 
and  as  she  had  not  answered  his  letter,  he  felt  the 
more  willing  to  place  the  great  natural  barrier 
between  them. 

'"The  sooner  we  go  the  better;  anything  is  more 
bearable  than  this  inactivity,"  he  declared,  with  a 
sigh. 

Nicosia  raised  his  soft,  dark  eyes  to  his  face. 

'"Can  I  go  with  you?"  he  asked. 

"I  suppose  every  one  who  wishes  can  go." 

"But  I  mean  at  your  side — your  comrade. " 

"I  know  not  what  disposition  Pizarro  may  make 
of  his  men,  and  we  must  obey  his  orders." 

Without  another  word  Nicosia  rose  and  left  the 
tent. 

"I  know  where  he  has  gone,"  remarked  De  Soto. 

"So  do  I." 

"All  will  depend  upon  the  humor  in  which  he 
finds  Pizarro." 

"I  hope,  for  the  boy's  sake,  his  mood  may  be 
amiable." 

"Have  you  solved  the  mystery  about  him?" 


268  ESTEVAN. 

"No." 

"Won't  lie  tell  you  anything  of  his  life,  who  he 
is,  where  he  has  lived,  and  the  cause  of  his  strange 

attachment  for  you?"  asked  De  Soto. 

~-«^ 

"He  will  reveal  nothing.  All  I  know  of  him  is 
that  he  is  well  acquainted  with  the  world.  He 
has  travelled  or  read  much.  He  seems  acquainted 
with  every  part  of  this  mysterious  country." 

After  a  few  moments  Nicosia  returned  as  quietly 
as  he  had  left,  a  happy  gleam  in  his  eyes  indicating 
that  he  had  found  Pizarro  in  one  of  his  agreeable 
moods. 

Five  months  after  landing  at  Tumbez,  on  the  24th 
of  September,  1532,  Pizarro  marched  at  the  head' 
of  his  hardy  adventurers  out  from  the  gates  of  San 
Miguel,  leaving  a  party  there  to  colonize  the  valley 
and  await  the  recruits  under  Almagro.  Putting 
himself  at  the  head  of  his  troops,  the  chief  struck 
boldly  into  the  heart  of  the  country  in  the 
direction  where,  he  was  informed,  lay  the  camp  of 
the  Inca.  This  was  perhaps  the  most  daring  enter 
prise  yet  engaged  in  by  any  Spaniard  in  the  New 
World.  With  a  handful  of  followers,  and,  as  yet, 
few  Indian  allies,  he  determined  to  penetrate  the 
very  heart  of  a  powerful  empire,  and  present  him 
self  face  to  face  before  the  Indian  monarch  in  his 
own  camp,  encompassed  by  the  flower  of  his  vic 
torious  army. 


A    CITY  OF   GOLD.  269 

On  the  morning  of  the  march,  Nicosia  placed 
himself  at  Estevan's  side  and  remained  with  him 
through  the  toil  and  danger  of  the  expedition. 

Having  crossed  the  Piura,  the  little  army  con 
tinued  to  advance  over  a  level  district  intersected 
by  streams  descending  from  the  neighboring  Cor 
dilleras.  The  country  was  in  places  covered  with 
a  shaggy  forest,  occasionally  traversed  by  barren 
ridges,  which  seemed  to  be  off-shoots  from  the  ad 
jacent  Andes,  breaking  up  the  surface  of  the  region 
into  sequestered  valleys  of  singular  loveliness.  The 
soil,  though  rarely  watered  by  rains,  was  rich,  and, 
whenever  refreshed  by  natural  irrigation,  as  along 
the  margins  of  the  streams,  it  was  covered  with  the 
brightest  verdure.  The  industry  of  the  inhabitants 
had  turned  the  streams  to  the  best  account,  and 
canals  and  aqueducts  crossed  the  low  lands  in  all 
directions  like  a  vast  network,  spreading  fertility 
and  beauty  around  them.  The  air  was  fragrant 
with  the  perfume  of  flowers,  and  everywhere  the 
eye  was  refreshed  by  the  sight  of  orchards  laden 
with  unknown  fruits  and  fields  waving  with  yellow 
grain,  or  rich  in  vegetables  of  every  description. 

Estevan  was  filled  with  wonder  at  the  high  de 
gree  of  civilization  of  these  people.  The  Peruvians 
had  developed  the  science  of  agriculture  to  greater 
perfection  than  any  people  yet  found  on  the  Amer 
ican  continent;  and  as  the  Spaniards  journeyed 


270  ESTEVAN. 

through  this  paradise  of  plenty,  they  could  not  but 
contrast  it  with  the  dreary  wastes  and  wilderness 
of  mangroves  through  which  they  had  passed  so 
recently.  They  were  everywhere  received  by'th 
trusting  natives  with  confiding  hospitality.  In 
every  town  of  considerable  size  was  found  some 
fortress  or  royal  caravansary,  which  furnished 
abundant  accommodations  for  the  little  army  of 
white  men.  Thus  the}"  were  provided  with  quar 
ters  along  their  route,  at  the  expense  of  the  very 
government  which  they  were  preparing  to  over 
turn. 

The  further  they  advanced,  the  more  Estevan 
realized  the  magnitude  of  their  enterprise,  and  he 
was  not  surprised  to  hear  whisperings  of  discontent 
among  the  men.  After  five  days'  march  from  San 
Miguel,  Pizarro  called  a  halt  in  one  of  the  beautiful 
valleys,  to  allow  his  troops  a  little  rest  and  make  a 
more  complete  inspection  of  men  and  arms.  The 
men  numbered  one  hundred  and  sixty-seven,  of 
which  sixty-seven  were  cavalry.  He  mustered 
only  three  arquebusiers  and  twenty  crossbow-men 
in  his  entire  army.  The  arquebuse  was  regarded 
as  too  heavy  and  cumbersome  for  a  long,  toilsome 
march  over  the  mountains. 

The  watchful  eye  of  the  commander  had  noted 
such  evidences  of  discontent  among  some  of  his 
men  that  he  grew  uneasy.  If  this  spirit  grew 


A    CITY  OF   GOLD.  271 

contagious,  it  would  ruin  the  enterprise,  and  he 
determined  to  remove  it  at  once,  if  possible.  Con 
sequently  he  called  the  troops  about  him,  and, 
mounting  a  stone  so  as  to  see  and  be  seen  by  every 
one,  he  addressed  them: 

"  Fellow  soldiers  and  Castilians,  a  crisis  has  now 
arrived  in  our  affairs  to  meet  which  demands  all 
our  courage.  No  man  should  think  of  going  for 
ward  in  this  expedition  who  cannot  do  so  with  his 
whole  heart,  or  who  has  the  least  misgivings  as  to 
success.  If  any  of  you  repent  having  taken  a  share 
in  it,  it  is  not  too  late  to  turn  back.  San  Miguel 
is  but  poorly  garrisoned,  and  I  would  be  glad  to 
see  it  strengthened.  All  who  choose  may  now  re 
turn,  and  they  shall  be  entitled  to  the  same  pro 
portion  of  lands  and  Indian  vassals  as  the  present 
residents:  have  no  fears  on  that  score.  With  the 
remainder,"  he  concluded,  "be  they  few  or  be  they 
many,  I  will  pursue  this  adventure  to  the  end." 

This  remarkable  and  unexpected  proposal  filled 
Estevan  with  wonder  and  alarm. 

"What  does  he  mean?"  he  exclaimed  to  De 
Soto,  who  stood  near  him.  "  Surely  he  will  drive 
two-thirds  of  the  army  back  to  San  Miguel;  the 
expedition  will  be  a  failure." 

De  Soto  shook  his  head. 

"No;  what  he  is  doing  is  best.  Pizarro  knows 
that  a  single  malcontent  is  more  to  be  feared  than 


272  ESTEVAN. 

a  thousand    enemies.     We   are  better  off  without 
them.      Very  few,  however,  will  return. 

De  Soto  was  correct;  for,  notwithstanding  the 
fair  opening  thus  afforded,  there  were  but  nine-w-ho 
availed  themselves  of  the  general's  permission — five 
cavalry  and  four  infantry.  The  others  declared 
their  resolve  to  go  forward  with  their  brave  leader, 
and,  if  there  were  some  faint  voices  amid  the 
general  acclamation,  they  at  least  relinquished  the 
right  to  complain  in  the  future,  having  voluntarily 
rejected  the  permission  to  return, 

"Why  didn't  you  go  back?"  asked  Nicosia,  his 
great,  sad  eyes  fixed  on  Estevan. 

"Why  should  I?"  Estevan  asked, 

"  There  is  greater  danger  in  store  for  you  than 
you  imagine." 

"Why  did  not  you  accept  the  offer?" 

Nicosia  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"I  will  go  if  you  do,"  he  replied. 

Having  winnowed  out  the  few  grains  of  discon 
tent,  which  might  have  become  dangerous  if  left  to 
grow  in  secret,  Pizarro  resumed  the  march,  and,  on 
the  second  day,  reached  a  place  called  Zaran,  situ 
ated  in  a  fruitful  valley  among  the  mountains. 
Some  of  the  people  of  this  town  had  been  drawn 
away  to  swell  the  army  of  Atahualpa.  The  con 
querors  as  yet  saw  no  signs  of  their  approach 
toward  the  royal  encampment,  though  more  time  had 


A    CITY  OF   GOLD.  273 

already  elapsed  than  was  originally  calculated  on 
to  reach  it. 

Being  informed  that  a  Peruvian  garrison  was 
established  in  a  place  called  Caxas,  among  the 
hills  not  far  from  Zaran,  Pizarro  dispatched  Her- 
nando  De  Soto  with  Estevan  and  ten  men  to  recon 
noitre  and  bring  back  an  account  of  the  actual  state 
of  things.  As  days  passed  and  no  tidings  were  re 
ceived  of  the  reconnoitering  party,  Nicosia  became 
greatly  distressed,  and  even  Pizarro  grew  uneasy. 
On  the  eighth  morning  De  Soto  appeared,  bringing 
with  him  an  envoy  from  the  Inca,  who  brought 
with  his  message  a  present  to  the  Spanish  comman 
der.  The  envoy  had  met  De  Soto  at  Caxas.  The 
wily  Spaniard  understood  the  object  of  this  diplo 
matic  visit  to  be  less  a  courtesy  to  the  invader,  than 
to  secure  information  of  the  strength  and  condition 
of  the  Spaniards.  He  took  great  care  that  the 
envoy  should  be  treated  with  all  due  regard  to  his 
rank  and  station.  On  his  departure,  Pizarro  pre 
sented  him  with  a  cap  of  crimson  cloth  and 
some  showy  ornaments  of  glass,  charging  him  to 
tell  his  master  that  the  Spaniards  came  from  a 
powerful  prince  beyond  the  waters;  that  they  had 
heard  much  of  the  fame  of  Atahualpa's  victories, 
and  were  coming  to  pay  their  respects  to  him,  and 
offer  their  services  against  his  enemies,  and  that 
they  would  not  halt  on  the  road  longer  than  was 
18 


274  ESTEVAN. 

necessary     before     presenting    themselves    before 
him. 

When  the  envoy  was  gone,  De  Soto  informed  his 
general  that  on  entering,  Caxas,  he  found  the^  in 
habitants  ready  to  give  battle ;  but,  on  assuring  therif 
of  their  peaceful  intentions,  they  received  the 
Spaniards  with  courtesy. 

After  sending  a  messenger  to  San  Miguel  with 
some  treasures  already  collected  from  the  Peruvians, 
Pizarro    acquainted  himself  with  the  most  direct 
route  to  Caxamalca.*     The    first  halt  was  at  the 
town  of  Motupa,  pleasantly   situated  in  a   fruitful 
valley,  among  the  hills  which  cluster  around  the  • 
base  of  the  Cordilleras.      Here  the  general   halted* 
four  days,  hoping  to  be   joined  by  reinforcements 
from  San  Miguel. 

"Why  don't  he  press  on?"  asked  Nicosia  anx 
iously.  "The  Inca  all  this  time  can  be  augment 
ing  his  forces."  He  seemed  so  wise,  to  know  so 
much  about  Peru  and  the  Inca,  that  Estevan, 
gazing  at  him,  asked: 

"Have  you  not  been  here  before?" 

The  mysterious  youth  became  confused  and 
answered,  "No." 

De  Soto  heard  the  answer  and  noted  the  con 
fusion. 

*  The  name  has  since  been  changed  to  Caxamarca. 


A    CITY   OF   GOLD.  275 

"I  don't  believe  him,"  he  said.  "He  has  a 
knowledge  of  Peru  and  Peruvians  which  can  only 
be  acquired  by  personal  contact." 

As  no  reinforcements  appeared,  they  continued 
their  inarch,  advancing  across  a  country  in  which 
sandy  hills  were  relieved  by  broad  expanses  of  ver 
dant  meadow,  watered  by  natural  streams.  They 
were  compelled  to  halt  at  one  stream  wider  than 
the  others,  and  Pizarro  sent  his  brother  Hernando 
across  with  a  small  detachment.  Then  they  cut 
down  trees  from  the  woods,  and  made  a  floating 
bridge  on  which  the  army  crossed  next  morning. 

Taking  every  possible  precaution,  Pizarro  pushed 
on,  and  at  the  end  of  three  days  reached  the  base 
of  the  mountain  behind  which  lay  the  ancient  town 
of  Caxamalca.  Before  them  rose  the  stupendous 
Andes,  rock  piled  upon  rock,  their  skirts  below 
dark  with  evergreen  forests,  varied  here  and  there 
by  terraced  patches  of  cultivated  garden,  with  the 
peasant's  cottage  clinging  to  their  shaggy  sides,  and 
their  crests  of  snow  glittering  high  in  the  heavens, 
presenting  altogether  such  a  wild  chaos  of  magnifi 
cence  and  beauty  as  no  other  mountain  scenery  in 
the  world  can  show.  Across  this  tremendous  ram 
part,  through  a  labyrinth  of  passes,  easily  capable 
of  defence  by  a  handful  of  men  against  a  large  army, 
the  troops  were  now  to  march.  To  the  right,  bor 
dered  by  friendly  shades,  ran  a  road  broad  enough 

i/  «/  CJ 


276  ESTEVAN. 

for  two  carriages  to  go  abreast — one  of  the  famous 
routes  to  Cuzco.  Some  of  the  officers  were  of  the 
opinion  that  the  army  should  choose  this  road,  but 
Pizarro  determined  to  hold  to  his  original  course^ 

"  We  have  everywhere  proclaimed  it  our  intention 
to  visit  the  Inca  in  his  camp,"  declared  Pizarro  in 
a  brief  address  to  his  followers.  "  This  purpose  has 
been  communicated  to  the  Inca  himself,  and  now 
to  take  an  opposite  direction  would  draw  upon  us 
the  charge  of  cowardice,  and  would  incur  Atahu- 
alpa's  contempt.  No  alternative  remains  but  to 
march  straight  across  the  Sierra  to  his  quarters. 
Let  every  one  take  heart  and  go  forward  like  a 
good  soldier,  nothing  daunted  by  the  poverty  of  • 
our  numbers.  In  the  greatest  extremity,  God  ever 
favors  his  own;  so  doubt  not,  he  will  humble  the 
pride  of  the  heathen,  and  bring  him  to  the  knowl 
edge  of  the  true  faith,  the  great  end  and  object  of 
this  conquest." 

Every  campaign -hardened  warrior  was  roused  to 
enthusiasm  by  this  speech. 

"Lead  on!"  they  cried.  "Lead  wherever  you 
think  best;  we  will  follow,  and  you  shall  see  that 
we  can  do  our  duty  in  the  cause  of  God  and  the 
king." 

Estevan  and  Hernando  Pizarro  were  sent  in  ad 
vance  with  a  small  party.  They  followed  a  road 
which  was  conducted  m  the  most  skilful  manner 


A   CITY   OF   GOLD.  277 

round  the  rugged  and  precipitous  sides  of  the 
mountains  so  as  to  best  avoid  the  natural  impedi 
ments  of  the  ground.  In  places  the  cavalry  were 
compelled  to  dismount  and  lead  their  horses,  which 
could  scarcely  climb  the  rugged  steeps.  In  many 
places  they  were  crowded  by  an  overhanging  crag  to 
the  very  verge  of  the  precipice,  where  a  single  mis 
step  would  precipitate  horse  and  rider  into  the  dread 
ful  abyss  below.  The  wild  passes  of  the  Sierra,  prac 
ticable  for  the  half-naked  Indian,  or  the  sure-footed 
mule,  became  formidable  to  the  Spaniards  and 
their  horses,  encumbered  with  armor  and  supplies. 

In  one  of  these  impregnable  passes  the  army  came 
suddenly  upon  a  frowning  fortress  built  of  solid 
masonry,  the  lower  part  excavated  from  the  solid 
rock.  The  fort  was  empty;  not  a  Peruvian  was 
in  sight,  and  Pizarro  took  up  his  quarters  there 
for  the  night. 

Next  morning  the  army  proceeded  still  deeper 
into  the  intricate  mountain  gorges.  From,  intense 
heat  the  climate  changed  to  intense  cold.  Even 
vegetation  changed,  the  gorgeous  foliage  of  the 
tropics  giving  place  to  the  Alpine  plants  and  herbs 
of  the  north,  while  the  dreary  wilderness  was 
nearly  abandoned  by  the  animal  creation.  The 
light-footed  vicufia,  roaming  in  its  native  wilds, 
might  sometimes  be  seen  looking  down  from  some 
airy  cliff,  where  the  foot  of  the  boldest  hunter 


278  ESTEVAN. 

dared  not  venture.  Instead  of  the  feathered  tribes, 
whose  gay  plumage  sparkled  in  the  deep  gloom  of 
the  tropical  forests,  the  invaders  beheld  only  that 
great  bird  of  the  Andes,  the  loathsome  condo"r> 
which,  sailing  high  above  the  clouds,  followed  with 
doleful  cries  in  the  track  of  the  army,  as  if  guided 
by  instinct  in  the  path  of  blood  and  carnage. 

The  crest  of  the  Cordillera  was  at  last  reached, 
and  Estevan,  with  the  shivering  Nicosia  at  his  side, 
stood  gazing  at  the  mountains  spread  out  in  a  bold 
and  bleak  expanse  with  scarce  a  vestige  of  vegeta 
tion,  except  dried  grass.  Below  were  rocks  rich 
in  gems,  and  mountains  big  with  mines,  for  they  ; 
were  approaching  the  famous  mines  of  Caxamalca. 
Nicosia  was  almost  frozen.  His  warm  blood  was 
untempered  to  the  rigors  of  the  frigid  zone. 

The  Spaniards  pressed  persistently  on,  sur 
mounting  every  obstacle,  and  overcoming  every 
difficulty.  Envoys  were  met  who  tried  to  detain 
or  turn  aside  the  invaders;  yet  they  pressed  on 
down  the  eastern  descent,  until  they  arrived  in  the 
valley  of  Caxamalca,  which,  clothed  with  all  the 
beauties  of  cultivation,  lay  like  a  rich  and  varie 
gated  carpet  of  verdure,  in  strong  contrast  with  the 
dark  forms  of  the  Andes  which  rose  on  every  side. 
Below,  with  its  white  houses  glittering  in  the  sun, 
lay  the  city  of  Caxamalca.  Columns  of  vapor,  a 
league  further  away,  marked  the  place  of  the 


A    CITY   OF   GOLD.  279 

famous  hot  baths,  so  much  frequented  by  the  Peru 
vian  princes.  Along  the  slope  south  of  the  hills 
white  pavilions  covered  the  ground  as  thickly  as 
snowflakes  for  the  space  of  many  miles.  The  city 
was  comparatively  deserted,  for  the  Inca  and  his 
people  were  in  their  camp.  It  was  the  15th  day 
of  November,  1532,  during  a  storm  of  rain  and 
hail,  that  Pizarro's  little  army  entered  the  city  in 
battle  array. 

Hernando  Pizarro,  Estevan,  De  Soto,  Felipillo 
and  a  few  others  were  sent  as  envoys  to  the  Inca, 
who  was  encamped  just  outside  the  city  with  a 
vast  army  of  men.  When  informed  of  the  visit 
of  Pizarro  he  said: 

"Tell  your  captain  I  am  observing  a  fast  which 
will  end  to-morrow  morning.  I  will  then  visit 
him  with  my  chieftains.  In  the  mean  time  let  him 
occupy  the  public  buildings  on  the  square,  and  no 
others  until  I  come,  when  I  shall  direct  what  is  to 
be  done." 

Observing  the  wonder  with  which  the  Inca 
watched  the  fiery  steeds,  De  Soto  determined  to 
exhibit  his  horsemanship  before  him.  Giving  his 
war-horse  the  rein,  he  struck  his  iron  heel  into  its 
flank  and  dashed  wildly  over  the  plain;  then, 
wheeling  him  round  and  round,  displaying  all  the 
beautiful  movements  of  his  charger,  he  suddenly 
checked  him  in  full  career,  bringing  the  animal  to 


280  ESTEVAN. 

its  haunches  so  near  to  the  person  of  the  Inca  that 
some  of  the  foam  which  flecked  the  sides  of  the 
charger  was  flung  on  the  royal  garments.  But 
Atahualpa  was  unmoved. 

Estevan,  who  had  trembled  with  dread  and  ap 
prehension  at  the  feat  of  De  Soto,  was  disappointed 
at  the  Inca's  unconcern. 

On  reaching  the  city,  Estevan  was  placed  on 
guard  duty.  It  had  grown  dusk,  and  Estevan  was 
pacing  to  and  fro,  when  he  descried  a  slender  form 
stealing  toward  him.  He  was  about  to  challenge 
him,  when  he  recognized  Nicosia. 

"Estevan,"  he  whispered,  "I  have  come  to  talk 
with  you."  Then,  drawing  nearer,  he  asked, 
"Have  you  learned  the  general's  desperate  plan?" 

"No;  what  is  it?" 

"He  has  determined  to  seize  Atahualpa  to-mor 
row." 

"How  can  he  do  that?" 

"When  the  Inca  enters  the  square,  at  a  given 
signal  we  are  all  to  rush  upon  him." 

"It  will  be  a  desperate  undertaking,  for  they  are 
a  thousand  to  one  of  us." 

"I  realize  it.  Let  me  remain  by  you,  and  if  we 
must  fall,  let  us  die  side  by  side." 

He  consented,  and  then,  regarding  the  grave  oc 
casion  as  a  fitting  one  for  the  unravelling  of  mys- 


A    CITY   OF   GOLD.  281 

teries,  he  asked  Nicosia  to  tell  who  lie  was.  But 
lie  shook  his  head  and  heaved  a  bitter  sigh. 

"I  cannot  now — I  cannot  now!" 

The  awful  night  of  November  15,  1532,  closed  on 
a  scene  of  hushed  excitement.  Only  the  careful 
tread  of  the  sentry,  or  some  soldier  breathing  a 
prayer  in  whispers,  broke  the  stillness. 


V,    ' 

CHAPTER   XIX. 

SEIZING   A   KING. 

LATE  in  the  night  Estevan  was  relieved,  and  re 
tired  to  his  quarters;  but  he  did  not  sleep.  There 
was  something  portentous  in  the  whispering  among 
the  officers  of  the  army.  Occasionally  the  rattling 
of  a  sword,  the  tread  of  a  sentry,  or  the  murmur  of  , 
a  sleepy  soldier  reached  his  ears;  all  seemed  to  fill 
the  coming  morrow  with  dread.  Estevan  sat  in  his 
quarters  with  Nicosia  at  his  side,  and,  not  feeling 
inclined  to  sleep,  prepared  to  pass  the  night  in 
watching. 

"Can  you  not  sleep,  Nicosia?"  he  asked. 

"No." 

"Do  you  dread  the  morrow?" 

"I  fear  some  dread  calamity  will  befall  us,  senor. 
If  it  comes  not  to-morrow,  it  will  not  long  delay." 

"Is  life  so  sweet  that  you  dare  not  take  the  des 
perate  chances  of  winning  the  jewels  a  king  might 
envy?" 

"It  is  not  that  life  is  sweet,  but  that  death  is 
awful,"  replied  Nicosia.  "I  have  little  to  hold 

282 


SEIZING    A    KING.  283 

me  to  this  world;  but  I  dread  that  leap  into  dark 
futurity." 

Estevan  made  no  reply.  He  was  strangely  im 
pressed  by  Nicosia's  remark.  His  own  life  had 
been  a  checkered  one;  for  the  few  bright  patches 
of  happiness  there  had  followed  broad  stretches  of 
misery.  His  mind  naturally  recurred  to  Inez. 
Had  she  arrived  at  Panama  without  sending  him 
any  message?  Her  long  silence  was  sufficient  to 
fill  him  with  forebodings,  and  in  his  conjectures  he 
concluded  that  her  ardent  love  had  consumed  itself 
in  its  own  warmth,  and  he  was  forgotten. 

"This  farce  called  life  will  soon  be  over,"  he 
thought.  "To-morrow  may  see  the  end  of  it  all." 
The  night  was  well-nigh  spent  when  he  slept. 

On  awaking,  he  found  the  dark  clouds  of  night 
passing  away  and  the  east  growing  rosy  with  light. 
At  his  side  sat  Nicosia,  still  awake  and  grasping  his 
spear.  Eising,  Estevan  gazed  off  to  the  east  to 
witness  perhaps  the  last  dawn  of  day  upon  earth. 
It  was  Saturday,  the  16th  of  November,  1532,  a 
memorable  day  in  the  history  of  Peru.  "With  the 
first  streak  of  dawn,  a  blast  of  trumpets  called  the 
Spaniards  to  arms,  and  Estevan,  rubbing  the  sleep 
from  his  eyes,  saw  the  grim  general  Pizarro  hurry 
ing  along  the  lines,  posting  the  men,  and  briefly 
acquainting  the  officers  with  the  plan  of  assault. 

The  public  square,  or  plaza,  in  which  the  Span- 


284  ESTEVAN. 

ish  army  was  formed,  and  which  it  was  understood 
the  Peruvian  Inca  would  enter  to  meet  the  white 
strangers,  was  defended  on  three  sides  by  low,  ranges 
of  buildings,  consisting  of  spacious  halls,  with  wide* 
doors  or  dormitories  opening  into  the  square.  In 
these  halls  Pizarro  stationed  his  cavalry  in  two 
divisions,  one  under  his  brother  Ilernando,  and  the 
other  under  De  Soto.  The  infantry  he  placed  in 
another  of  the  buildings,  reserving  twenty  chosen 
men  to  act  with  himself  as  occasion  might  require. 
Pedro  de  Comedia,  with  a  few  soldiers  and  the  ar 
tillery — two  small  pieces  called  falconets — he  es 
tablished  in  the  fortress.  All  received  orders  to 
wait  at  their  posts  until  the  arrival  of  the  Inca. 

Estevan  was  at  the  side  of  De  Soto,  mounted 
on  a  powerful  black  Arabian  steed,  and  on  his  left 
was  Nicosia  on  a  white  one.  All  waited  with  trem 
bling  anxiety  and  eagerness.  Felipillo,  with  eyes 
gleaming,  hurried  hither  and  thither,  muttering 
sometimes  in  Spanish  and  sometimes  in  his  native 
tongue, 

"The  hour  of  vengeance  is  come." 

All  had  heard  of  the  seizure  of  his  bride  by  the 
Inca  and  knew  to  what  he  referred.  From  his 
post  Estevan  had  a  good  view  of  the  plaza. 

"Do  they  come?"  asked  an  impatient  soldier  in 
his  rear. 

"No." 


SEIZING    A    KING,  285 

All  waited  in  trembling  silence.  Hour  after 
hour  passed,  until  the  sun  reached  the  meridian 
and  began  its  descent,  and  still  the  Inca  came  not. 
The  soldiers  became  uneasy  and  restless,  and  began 
to  murmur,  but  were  not  allowed  to  break  ranks. 
Some  began  to  fear  that  Atahualpa  had  discovered 
the  design  of  Pizarro  and  had  determined  to  not 

«_; 

place  himself  in  his  power.  Even  the  captain-gen 
eral  grew  anxious.  The  middle  of  the  afternoon 
had  passed,  when  suddenly  there  came  a  whisper 
from  the  lookout  on  the  watch-tower: 

"  They  come  !      They  come!  " 

As  the  news  passed  from  soldier  to  soldier,  every 
man  became  erect  and  the  lines  were  dressed.  The 
cavalrymen  straightened  up  in  their  saddles,  seized 
their  lances  and  lowered  their  visors  in  a  most  de 
termined  manner.  Some  craned  their  necks  to  get 
a  glimpse  of  the  coming  procession. 

"I  see  them!"  whispered  Nicosia,  who  was  well 
to  the  front. 

"Are  there  many?"  asked  De  Soto  with  evident 
concern. 

"There  seems  no  end  to  the  procession." 

"Do  you  see  the  Inca?" 

"Yes,  he  is  coming,  borne  high  above  his  vas 
sals  on  a  throne  of  gold,  in  a  palanquin  lined  with 
richly  colored  plumes." 

With  glittering   splendor  and  nodding  plumes 


286  ESTEVAN. 

the  vast  procession  filed  into  the  plaza,  opening  to 
the  right  and  left  for  the  royal  retinue  to  pass. 
Everything  was  conducted  with  admirable  order, 
and  while  the  monarch  traversed  the  plaza'  -he  £aw 
not  a  single  hostile  demonstration.  Some  five  or* 
six  thousand  of  his  people  entered  the  place,  and 
Atahualpa  halted  and  gazed  about  him. 

"Where  are  the  strangers?" 

Fray  Vicente  de  Yalverde,  a  Dominican  friar, 
and  chaplain  to  Pizarro,  came  forward,  his  Bible 
in  one  hand  and  a  crucifix  in  the  other,  with 
Felipillo  as  his  interpreter. 

"I  come  by  order  of  my  commander,"  he  said, 
"to  expound  to  you,  Inca  of  Peru,  the  doctrines'* 
of  the  true  faith,   for  wrhich  the   Spaniards  have 
come  a  great  distance  to  your  country." 

He  then  proceeded  to  discuss  the  doctrines  of  the 
Trinity,  beginning  with  the  creation  of  man  and 
ending  with  the  crucifixion  and  the  ascension  of 
Jesus  Christ,  when  the  Saviour  left  the  apostle 
Peter  as  his  vicegerent  upon  earth,  which  power 
had  been  regularly  transmitted  to  the  successors  of 
the  apostles,  good  and  wise  men,  who,  under  the 
title  of  Popes,  held  authority  over  the  powers  and 
potentates  on  earth.  He  concluded  as  follows: 

"The  Pope  now  reigning  has  commissioned  the 
Spanish  emperor,  the  greatest  monarch  in  the 
world,  to  conquer  and  convert  the  natives  in  this 


SEIZING   A    KING.  287 

Western  Hemisphere;  and  his  great  general,  Fran 
cisco  Pizarro,  has  come  to  execute  this  important 
mission.  I  beseech  you  to  receive  him  kindly,  to 
abjure  the  errors  of  your  own  faith,  and  embrace 
that  of  the  holy  Catholic  Church  now  proffered  to 
you,  the  only  one  by  which  you  can  hope  for  sal 
vation.  Furthermore,  I  beseech  you  to  acknowl 
edge  yourself  a  tributary  to  the  emperor  Charles 
V. ,  who  in  that  event  will  aid  and  protect  you  as 
his  loyal  vassal." 

The  eyes  of  the  Indian  monarch  flashed  fire,  and 
his  dark  brow  grew  dark  with  indignation. 

"I  will  be  no  man's  tributary,"  he  replied.  "I 
am  greater  than  any  prince  on  earth.  Your  em 
peror  may  be  a  great  prince;  I  do  not  doubt  it 
when  I  see  that  he  has  sent  his  subjects  so  far 
across  the  waters;  and  I  am  willing  to  regard  him 
as  a  brother.  As  for  the  Pope  of  whom  you  speak, 
he  must  be  drunk  or  crazy  to  talk  of  giving  away 
countries  which  do  not  belong  to  him.  I  will  not 
change  my  faith.  Your  own  God,  as  you  say, 
was  put  to  death  by  the  very  men  whom  he  created. 
But  mine,"  he  concluded,  pointing  to  the  sun  sink 
ing  behind  the  mountains  for  the  last  time  on  the 
glory  of  Peruvian  power,  "  my  God  still  lives  in 
the  heavens  and  looks  down  on  his  children.  By 
what  authority  do  you  say  these  strange  things?" 

"By  this  book,"  and  he  handed  the  Bible  to  the 


288  ESTEVAN. 

Inca.  Atahualpa,  taking  it,  turned  over  the  pages 
for  a  moment;  then,  as  the  insult  he  had  received 
flashed  more  forcibly  across  his  mind,  he  hurled  the 
sacred  volume  from  him. 

"Tell  your  comrades  they  shall  give  me  an  ac*- 
count  of  their  doings  in  my  land,"  he  exclaimed. 
"I  will  not  go  from  here  until  they  have  given  me 
full  satisfaction  for  all  the  wrongs  they  have  com 
mitted." 

Hastily  picking  up  the  book,  the  indignant  monk 
returned  to  Pizarro,  and  informed  him  of  what  had 
been  done. 

"Do  you  not  see,"  he  added,  excitedly,  " that 
while  we  stand  here  wasting  our  breath  in  talking, 
with  this  dog,  full  of  pride  as  he  is,  the  fields  are 
filling  with  Indians?  Set  upon  them  at  once;  I 
absolve  you." 

Every  Spaniard  was  waiting  with  wildly  palpi 
tating  heart  the  terrible  onset.  Nicosia  grasped  his 
sword  nervously. 

"The  hour  has  come,"  he  whispered  to  Estevan. 
"See  there!  Pizarro  waves  his  wrhite  scarf  in  the 
air — the  signal!" 

Estevan  gathered  up  the  reins  and  couched  his 
lance. 

"Boom!"  went  the  fatal  gun  from  the  fortress. 

"St.  Jago,  and  at  them!"  cried  Pizarro,  leaping 
into  the  plaza.  Like  one  tremendous  thunderbolt 


SEIZING   A   KING.  289 

the  Spanish  horse  and  foot  burst  into  the  square, 
and  with  the  fury  of  a  whirlwind  threw  themselves 
upon  the  astounded  Indians.  Stunned  by  the 
thunder  of  artillery  and  matchlocks,  the  echoes  of 
which  reverberated  from  the  surrounding  buildings, 
and,  blinded  by  the  smoke  which  rolled  in  sulphu 
rous  volumes  along  the  square,  they  were  seized 
with  a  terrible  panic,  and  knew  not  where  to  fly. 
Indiscriminately  trampled  down  by  the  fierce  war- 
horses,  cut  right  and  left  by  flashing  swords,  and 
beholding  horse  and  rider  in  all  their  terror,  it  is 
no  wonder  that  they  were  helpless  with  dread. 
The  avenues  of  escape  were  soon  choked  up  with 
the  dead  bodies  of  men  in  their  vain  endeavors  to 
fly.  A  breach  was  made  in  the  wall  and  many 
escaped  through  it,  while  hundreds  perished  in 
their  efforts  to  reach  this  only  avenue  of  escape. 
Every  sword  grew  redder  with  each  successive 
stroke,  and  the  great  square  was  drenched  with 
blood. 

"Pruilla,  we  shall  be  avenged!"  cried  Felipillo, 
leaping  at  the  Incawith  upraised  dagger. 

"Let  no  one  who  values  his  life  harm  the  Inca!" 
cried  Pizarro,  stretching  forth  his  brawny  arm  to 
save  the  monarch's  life.  The  dagger  fell  on  his 
own  arm,  and  Pizarro' s  was  the  only  Spanish  blood 
which  flowed  that  day. 

The  struggle  around  the  royal  litter  momentarily 

19 


290  ESTEVAN. 

became  more  fierce.  It  swayed  and  reeled  like  a 
ship  in  a  storm  as  the  nobles  supporting  it  fell  be 
neath  the  swords  and  lances.  Suddenly  it  was 
overturned,  and  the  Indian  prince  would  have  fallen 
to  the  ground  had  not  Pizarro  and  Estevan  caught 
him  in  their  arms.  A  soldier  named  •  Estete 
snatched  from  his  temples  the  imperial  borla,  and 
the  unhappy  monarch,  strongly  secured,  was  re 
moved  to  a  neighboring  building,  where  he  was 

O  O  O  ' 

carefully  guarded.  A  king  had  been  seized  by  a 
mere  handful  of  adventurers,  in  the  midst  of  his 
army. 

The  Peruvians  were  too  much  overcome  by  the 
attack  to  make  much  further  resistance.      Nearly  * 
ten  thousand  had  been  slain,  and   the  remainder 
were  humbled. 

It  was  three  days  before  Estevan  recovered  from 
the  terrible  shock  produced  by  the  indiscriminate 
slaughter.  He  and  Nicosia  were  selected  as  guards 
over  the  imprisoned  king,  and  they  did  all  in  their 
power  to  alleviate  his  sufferings.  Pizarro,  too,  was 
kind  to  him,  and  allowed  his  family  to  visit  him. 
But  for  the  watchful  care  of  the  guards,  Felipillo 
would  have  satisfied  his  hatred  by  slaying  the  royal 
prisoner.  He  forced  his  way  into  the  harem  where 
he  found  his  adored  Pruilla,  whom  the  Inca  had 
torn  from  his  side.  The  joy  of  this  meeting  is 
beyond  description.  Clasping  the  lovely  Peruvian 


SEIZING    A    KING.  291 

in  his  arms,  Felipillo  exclaimed:  "Peru  has  lost 
king,  liberty,  and  glory,  but  I  have  gained  more 
than  all  these — she  who  is  the  sunlight  of  my  life." 

One  day  Pizarro,  fearing  that  his  royal  prisoner 
would  attempt  to  escape,  went  to  him  and  said: 
"  Any  effort  on  your  part  to  escape,  or  on  the  part 
of  your  friends  to  rescue  you,  will  force  me  to  put 
you  to  death." 

The  wily  captain  knew  that  this  would  be  com 
municated  to  the  Peruvians  all  over  the  country. 
Bereft  of  crown  and  kingdom,  the  unhappy  monarch 
felt  that  a  terrible  fate  was  settling  about  him.  But 
amid  all  his  woe,  he  evinced  no  little  curiosity  and 
interest  in  the  strangers.  One  day  he  asked  his 
guard  how  the  Spaniards  communicated  by  writing. 
Explaining  as  best  he  could,  Estevau  wrote  the 
word  "God"  on  the  Inca's  thurnb-nail. 

"That  is  the  word  God,"  he  explained,  "and 
any  of  our  men  can  tell  you  the  same  by  looking 
at  it."  A  few  moments  later  De  Soto  entered,  the 
test  was  tried  and  he  answered  correctly.  Nicosia 
carne  next  and  several  others,  and  all  gave  a  cor 
rect  answer.  Unfortunately  for  Atahualpa,  Pizarro 
entered  his  prison-chamber,  and  he  tried  him  with 
the  test,  but  only  a  blank,  expressionless  stare  was 
the  answer.  Pizarro  could  not  read. 

"Is  it  possible  that  the  great  captain  has  not  the 
knowledge  of  a  common  soldier?"  said  the  royal 


292  ESTEVAN. 

prisoner  in  a  tone  of  contempt.  Pizarro  was  sensi 
tive  on  the  subject  of  illiteracy  or  humble  birth, 
and  from  that  moment  became  a  personal  enemy  of 
the  Inca.  Atalmalpa  was  not  long  in  realizing  tTi'ftfe 
he  was  hated  by  the  captain,  and  began  to  fear  for 
his  personal  safety.  Knowing  that  Pizarro  loved 
gold,  he  offered  him  a  heavy  ransom  for  his  liberty. 

"How  much  will  you  give?"'  asked  Pizarro. 
"Will  you  cover  the  floor  of  this  room?" 

"I  will  not  only  cover  the  floor  but  fill  the  room 
with  gold  as  high   as   I   can   reach,"  he  answered, 
standing  on  tiptoe  and  reaching  up  as  high  as  he. 
could.  ; 

The  apartment  was  about  seventeen  feet  broad  by 
twenty-two  feet  long,  and  the  line  indicating  how 
high  it  was  to  be  filled  was  nine  feet  from  the  floor, 
making  five  thousand  three  hundred  and  forty-six 
cubic  feet  of  gold  which  Pizarro  was  to  receive  as 
ransom  for  the  Inca.  The  gold,  however,  was  to  re 
tain  the  original  form  of  the  articles  in  which  it  was 
manufactured,  that  Atahualpa  might  have  the  bene 
fit  of  the  space  which  they  occupied.  He  further 
agreed  to  fill  an  adjoining  room  of  equal  size  twice 
over  with  silver,  for  which  he  was  to  have  his 
liberty. 

Pizarro  had  no  faith  in  his  being  able  to  accu 
mulate  such  a  fabulous  amount  of  treasure ;  but  the 
Inca  sent  orders  to  his  vassals  throughout  the  land, 


SEIZING   A   KING.  293 

and  temples,  public  houses,  and  private  dwellings 
of  the  rich  were  despoiled  and  the  rich  treasure 
came  pouring  in.  Estevan,  who  received  the  gold 
and  placed  it  in  the  apartment,  was  amazed  at 
the  exquisite  workmanship  of  many  of  the  orna 
ments. 

Rumor  reached  the  ears  of  the  captive  Inca  that 
Iluascar,  his  brother  and  rival,  whom  he  feared 
and  hated,  was  seeking  to  take  advantage  of  Ata- 
hualpa's  imprisonment  and  seize  the  Peruvian 
throne.  Atahualpa  became  greatly  alarmed  and 
determined  to  do  away  with  his  brother.  Accord 
ingly  Huascar  was  assassinated  before  Pizarro  could 
interfere.  The  conqueror  wras  very  indignant  at 
the  assassination  of  Huascar,  and  boldly  accused 
Atahualpa  of  instigating  the  crime.  This  the  cap 
tive  denied.  All  the  while  the  treasure  flowed  in, 
and  Estevan  reported  that  the  room  would  soon  be 
filled  with  gold  to  the  required  height. 

It  was  reported,  about  this  time,  that  there  was 
an  uprising  of  Peruvian  forces  who  were  concen 
trating  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  city  of  Huama- 
chuco.  AYhen  accused  of  this  supposed  treachery, 
and  also  informed  that  the  required  amount  of  gold 
was  still  incomplete,  the  Inca  was  astounded. 

"No  one  of  my  subjects  would  dare  appear  in 
arms  or  raise  a  finder  without  my  orders,"  he  de- 

o  i/ 

clared.     "You  have  me  in  your  power.     Is  not 


294  ESTEVAN. 

my  life  at  your  disposal,  and  what  better  security 
can  you  have  for  my  fidelity?" 

A  small  party  of  horse,  about  twenty  in  number, 
was  sent  to  Huamachuco  to  ascertain  if  the  rumor 
of  the  uprising  was  true.  Meanwhile,  gold  antt 
silver  continued  to  pour  in.  Never,  perhaps,  was 
there  such  an  accumulation  of  precious  metal.  The 
amount  of  gold  still  lacked  three  and  a  half  inches 
of  reaching  the  nine-foot  line,  when  again  rumors  of 
an  uprising  in  the  interior  reached  the  general's  ears. 
De  Soto  was  ordered  to  take  a  party  of  cavalry  and 
to  go  and  learn  if  there  were  any  truth  in  the  rumor. 

"Send  some  one  else!"  plead  the  captive  Inca, 
on  learning  that  De  Soto,  who  had  always  been  his  • 
best  friend  since  his  captivity,  was  to  be  sent  away ; 
but  Pizarro  heeded  not  his  request  and  ordered  De 
Soto  to  prepare  for  the  expedition. 

The  horses'  shoes  being  worn  out  by  the  journey 
across  the  Andes,  and  there  being  a  dearth  of  steel 
and  iron,  De  Soto  shod  his  horses  with  silver,  which 
was  far  more  plentiful. 

"Is he  gone?"  Atahualpa  asked  Estevanthe  day 
after  the  departure  of  De  Soto. 

"He  is,"  the  guard  answered. 

"Then  I  am  doomed,"  groaned  the  unhappy 
Inca.  "The  only  friend  able  to  protect  me  has 
been  sent  away,  and  the  cruel  Pizarro  will  now  put 
me  to  death," 


SEIZING   A    KING.  295 

In  vain  Estevan  strove  to  rouse  his  drooping 
spirits.  Believing  himself  the  victim  of  the  ma 
licious  Felipillo  and  his  terrible  master  Pizarro,  as 
well  as  an  unrelenting  fate,  the  Inca  refused  to  be 
consoled.  When  Estevan  was  relieved,  Nicosia, 
who  had  overheard  his  remark,  came  to  Estevan. 

"  What  the  Inca  says  is  true,  senor.  Pizarro 
will,  on  some  pretext,  put  him  to  death." 

After  the  departure  of  De  Soto  to  Huamachuco  to 
reconnoitre  the  country  and  ascertain  what  grounds 
there  were  for  the  rumored  insurrection,  the  agita 
tion  among  the  soldiers  increased  to  such  a  degree 
that  Pizarro  consented  to  bring  Atahualpa  to  im 
mediate  trial.  A  court  was  organized  over  which 
the  two  captains,  Pizarro  and  Almagro,  presided  as 
judges.  The  charges  preferred  against  the  Inca 
were  drawn  up  in  the  form  of  interrogations,  twelve 
in  number.  It  was  charged  that  he  had  usurped 
the  crown  and  assassinated  his  brother  Huascar; 
that  he  had  squandered  the  public  revenues  since 
the  conquest  of  the  country  by  the  Spaniards,  and 
lavished  them  on  his  kindred  and  minions;  that  he 
was  guilty  of  idolatry  and  bigamy  and  had  at 
tempted  an  insurrection  among  the  Spaniards. 

"The  charges  are  unjust,  and  no  fair  trial  can  be 
obtained  from  them,"  declared  Estevan. 

"Why  are  they  unjust?"  Pizarro  asked. 

"  Most  of  them  are  against  the  usages  and  cus- 


396  ESTEVAN. 

toms  of  the  people  over  which  we  have  no  jurisdic 
tion." 

"The  judges  must  settle  those  questions," 
answered  Pizarro. 

"Defer,  I  pray  you,  the  trial  until  De  Soto  re-"*' 
turns." 

"Wherefore  should  we?" 

"  That  the  Tnca  may  have  one  powerful  friend 
who  will  see  to  it  that  he  has  justice." 

"De  Soto  is  not  in  command,"  cried  Pizarro  so 
fiercely  that  Nicosia,  becoming  alarmed,  led  Este- 
van  aside  and  implored  him  not  to  cross  the  general 
in  his  purpose,  as  he  might  incur  his  displeasure, 
and  the  hatred  of  Pizarro  was  something  to  be 
dreaded.  The  examination  proceeded,  and  the  trial 
was  so  manifestly  unjust  that  Estevan  again  raised 
his  voice  in  defence  of  the  prisoner,  and  was  sur 
prised  to  find  himself  with  considerable  following. 
Atahualpa  was  found  guilty  and  sentenced  to  be 
burned  alive  in  the  public  square  of  Caxamalca. 
Father  Valverde  signed  the  death  warrant. 

Estevan  was  so  open  in  his  denunciation  of  the 
sentence  that  he  very  nearly  came  to  blows  with 
some  of  the  opposing  party.  He  tried  to  prevail 
on  them  to  wait  until  De  Soto's  return,  but  was 
over-ruled. 

When  the  sentence  was  read  to  the  Inca  he  was 
greatly  overcome  by  it.  He  asked  to  see  Pizarro, 


SEIZING   A   KING.  397 

and  when  the  captain  entered  the  presence  of  the 
royal  prisoner,  the  Inca  burst  into  tears. 

"  What  have  I  or  my  children  done,  that  I  should 
meet  such  a  fate?"  he  exclaimed.  "And  from 
your  hands,  too — you,  who  have  met  with  friend 
ship  and  kindness  from  my  people,  with  whom  I 
have  shared  my  treasures,  who  have  received  noth 
ing  but  benefits  from  my  hands!  Spare  my  life!" 
lie  piteously  cried,  "and  I  will  give  you  any 
guarantee  of  safety  that  may  be  required  for  every 
Spaniard  in  your  army.  I  have  filled  this  room 
with  gold,  and  I  will  fill  it  again;  but  oh!  do  not 
doom  me  to  that  horrible  death!" 

Pizarro  was  visibly  affected,  but  he  was  not  to 
be  moved  from  his  purpose.  He  had  determined 
on  the  conquest  of  Peru,  and  that  could  not  be  ac 
complished  while  Atahualpa  lived. 

Estevan  had  roused  the  hatred  of  the  conqueror 
and  his  followers,  and  nine-tenths  of  the  army  were 
against  him.  Discovering  that  he  could  do  the  un 
fortunate  Inca  no  good,  he  bade  him  a  tearful  fare 
well,  and,  with  Nicosia,  went  to  another  part  of  the 
city  that  he  might  not  be  a  witness  to  the  horrible 
sight.  On  the  29th  of  August,  1533,  Atahualpa 
was  led  out  in  chains  and  fastened  to  the  stake.  In 
order  to  avoid  the  painful  death  of  burning,  the 
Inca  professed  to  embrace  Christianity,  and  his  sen 
tence  was  commuted  to  the  milder  form  of  the  gar- 


298  ESTEVAN. 

rote,  a  mode  of  punishment  by  strangulation  used 
for  criminals  in  Spain. 

A  day  or  two  after  the  tragedy,  Hernando  De 
Soto  returned  from  his  expedition,  and  was  greatly 
astonished  and  indignant  on  learning  what  had 
been  done  in  his  absence.  Estevan  and  Nicosia 
met  the  cavalier  some  distance  from  the  town  and 
told  him  of  the  death  of  the  Inca. 

"Will  God  forgive  such  a  barbarous  deed?" 
groaned  De  Soto,  reeling  in  his  saddle  as  if  he  had 
received  a  blow.  He  sought  out  Pizarro  and  found 
him  with  a  great  felt  hat,  by  way  of  mourning, 
slouched  over  his  eyes,  and  his  dress  and  demeanor 
exhibiting  all  the  show  of  sorrow. 

"You  have  acted  rashly,"  said  blunt  but  honest 
De  Soto.  "  Atahualpa  was  slandered.  There  were 
no  enemies  at  Huamachuco ;  no  rising  among  the 
natives.  I  have  met  nothing  on  the  road  but  ex 
pressions  of  good  will,  and  all  is  quiet.  If  it  was 
necessary  to  bring  the  Inca  to  trial,  he  should  have 
been  taken  to  Castile  and  judged  by  the  emperor. 
I  would  have  pledged  myself  to  see  him  safe  on 
board  the  vessel." 

"It  was  hasty,"  admitted  Pizarro,  "but  I  was 
deceived  by  Riquelme,  the  royal  treasurer,  and 
Valverde  and  others." 

These  charges  soon  reached  the  ears  of  the  treas 
urer  and  the  Dominican,  who,  in  their  turn,  ex- 


SEIZING    A    KINO.  299 

culpated  themselves  and  upbraided  Pizarro  to  his 
face,  charging  him  with  the  entire  responsibility 
for  the  deed.  The  dispute  ran  high,  and  they  were 
soon  heard  giving  one  another  the  lie.  This  vul 
gar  squabble  among  the  leaders,  so  soon  after  the 
event,  is  sufficient  proof  of  the  iniquity  of  their 
proceedings. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

A   BANQUET   OF   DEATH. 

THROUGHOUT  all  the  stirring  events  we  have 
described  there  was  ever  uppermost  in  the  mind  of 
Christopher  Estevan  the  memory  of  one  sweet  face 
in  far-off  Spain.  What  can  banish  the  faces  of 
loved  ones?  Perchance  not  even  death  can  do  it. 
By  day  and  by  night,  through  sunlight  and  gloom,  , 
he  saw  the  sweet,  thoughtful  face  of  Inez.  Her 
name  he  never  breathed  aloud,  and  those  who  were 
his  constant  companions  little  dreamed  that  her  face 
was  the  guiding  star  and  beacon  light  which  cheered 
his  footsteps  across  the  rugged  Andes. 

Others  had  taken  up  the  quarrel  with  Pizarro, 
and  he  did  not  again  refer  to  the  murder  of  the 
Inca,  though  it  became  painfully  evident  that 
Pizarro' s  dislike  for  Estevan  was  increasing  every 
day. 

"He  hates  you,"  Nicosia  said  one  day.  "He 
would  kill  you  if  he  could." 

"He  dares  not  do  that,  Nicosia. " 

"He  dares  do  anything  to  gain  his  selfish  ends," 

Nicosia  answered. 

300 


A    BANQUET   OF  DEATH.  301 

Estevan  consulted  De  Soto  on  the  growing  anti 
pathy  of  Pizarro  toward  themselves. 

"  He  dares  not  harm  us,"  De  Soto  asserted;  "  but 
he  will  grow  so  reckless  and  bloodthirsty  with 
power  that  we  will  either  have  to  forsake  him  or 
our  honor." 

"Whither  goes  the  army  now?" 

"To  Cuzco." 

"Who  will  be  the  next  ruling  Inca?" 

"Toparca  is  the  choice  of  Pizarro,  and  his  choice 
will  fix  the  matter,"  answered  De  Soto.  "Pizarro 
is  a  shrewd  knave,  and  knows  that  he  who  crowns 
the  king  owns  him;  consequently  Toparca  is 
selected." 

"Do  you  know  anything  of  this  fellow  Toparca?" 
Estevan  asked. 

"Nothing  whatever,  though  probably  he  has  re 
signed  himself  without  reluctance  to  a  destiny 
which,  however  humiliating  in  some  points  of  view, 
is  more  exalted  than  he  could  have  hoped  to  obtain 
in  the  regular  course  of  events." 

"When  is  the  coronation  to  take  place?" 

"At  once." 

Within  the  very  week  of  the  above  conversation, 
Toparca  was  crowned  according  to  the  Peruvian  cus 
tom,  the  imperial  borla  being  placed  on  his  head  by 
Pizarro. 

De  Soto  was  correct  in  his  surmises ;  for  the  new 


302  ESTEVAN. 

Inca  was  no  sooner  crowned  than  the  Spanish  in 
vaders  and  their  allies  turned  their  attention  toward 
Cuzco.  The  soldiers  were  all  in  good  spirits  at  the 
prospect  of  doubling  their  riches.  Almagro  rTaii- 
joined  them  with  reinforcements,  and  they  enter 
tained  little  doubt  as  to  success.  Their  numbers 
had  grown  to  be  formidable,  and  by  the  disheartened 
natives  they  were  thought  to  be  invincible.  The 
young  Inca  and  the  old  chief  Challcuchima  accom 
panied  the  march  in  their  litters,  attended  by  a 
numerous  retinue  of  vassals,  and  moving  in  as 
much  state  and  ceremony  as  if  they  were  the  pos 
sessors  of  real  power  instead  of  puppets  in  the 
hands  of  their  conquerors. 

They  journeyed  along  the  great  road  of  the  In- 
cas,  the  like  of  which  has  never  been  known  in  the 
world.  They  beheld  the  wonderful  swinging 
bridges,  and  all  the  beautiful  ingenuity  of  a  race 
which  had  begun  to  fade  from  the  earth.  They 
passed  temples  erected  to  gods  unknown  to  them, 
and  which,  in  wonder,  magnificence,  and  richness 
of  jewels,  have  never  been  surpassed.  These  the 
ruthless  invaders  hesitated  not  to  despoil  of  their 
treasures.  The  road  is  to  this  day  a  thing  of  won 
der.  Sometimes  it  crosses  a  smooth  valley,  at 
others  it  follows  the  course  of  a  mountain  stream, 
flowing  round  the  base  of  some  beetling  cliff,  leav 
ing  small  space  for  foothold. 


A    BANQUET   OF  DEATH.  303 

It  was  a  formidable  passage  for  cavalry.  The 
mountain  \vas  hewn  into  steps,  and  the  rocky  ledges 
cut  the  hoofs  of  the  horses;  and,  although  the 
troopers  dismounted  and  led  them  by  the  bridle, 
they  suffered  severely  in  their  efforts  to  keep  their 
footing. 

"Senor  Estevan,  have  a  care,"  cried  Nicosia,  as 
the  young  cavalier's  horse  nearly  stumbled  over  into 
the  awful  depths  below.  "  Dismount,  I  pray  you, 
dismount  as  others  have  done,  and  lead  your  horse." 

Estevan  was  forced  to  do  so.  They  had  not 
proceeded  far  before  they  came  to  where  a  deep 
torrent  rushed  down  in  fury  from  the  Andes. 
This  was  crossed  by  one  of  those  hanging  bridges 
of  osier,  whose  frail  materials  were  after  a  time 
broken  up  by  the  heavy  tread  of  the  cavalry,  and 
the  holes  made  in  them  added  materially  to  the 
dangers  of  the  passage.  Then  the  Spaniards  were 
forced  to  make  their  way  across  on  rafts,  swimming 
their  horses  by  the  bridle. 

"Do  you  suffer  much  from  the  cold?"  Nicosia 
asked  Estevan  as  they  wended  their  way  up  the 
mountain. 

"Not  much,  Nicosia;  how  is  it  with  you?" 

"My  teeth  are  chattering  again,"  he  answered, 
as  he  drew  his  cloak  closer  about  his  shoulders. 

"If  these  bleak  winds  penetrate  our  harness,  how 
much  more  must  the  Peruvians  suffer!" 


304  ESTEVAN. 

"They  do,"  lie  answered. 

De  Soto,  who  had  been  riding  in  the  van,  came 
back  to  the  young  cavalier  as  they  neared  Xauxa. 

"We  will  meet  opposition  soon,"  he  Sak^ 
"  You  can  see  great  bodies  of  Indians  like  clouds  in 
the  valley  below.  They  are  concentrating  some 
where." 

He  was  correct.  They  concentrated  at  Xauxa, 
where  the  invaders  found  the  bridge  destroyed,  and 
were  compelled  to  ford  the  stream.  The  enemy, 
in  vast  numbers,  were  drawn  up  on  the  other  side 
to  receive  them.  De  Soto  and  Estevan  led  the 
cavalry  at  a  charge,  and,  plunging  into  the  water, 
with  their  terrible  battle-cry,  waded  and  swam 
across  the  stream,  so  disconcerting  the  Indians  that 
they  fled. 

Pizarro  halted  a  few  days  at  Xauxa,  and  sent  De 
Soto  with  a  detachment  of  sixty  horse,  including 
Estevan  and  Nicosia,  to  reconnoitre  the  country. 
Drawing  near  the  Sierra  of  Vilcacauga,  they  were 
informed  by  their  scouts  that  a  large  body  of 
Indians  lay  in  wait  at  a  dangerous  pass  in  the 
mountains. 

"What  shall  we  do?"  De  Soto  asked  his  officers, 
"wait  for  the  infantry,  or  press  on  to  Cuzco?" 

"Press  on  to  Cuzco,"  answered  the  impetuous 
Estevan,  and  every  one  agreed  with  him.  They 
pushed  on  with  their  weary  horses,  and  when  they 


A    BANQUET   OF  DEATH.  305 

were  fairly  entangled  in  the  rocky  defiles,  a  multi 
tude  of  armed  warriors,  with  terrific  yells,  seemed 
to  start  from  every  nook  arid  corner  of  the 
mountains. 

"Holy  Virgin  preserve  us!"  cried  Nicosia  in  an 
undertone,  yet  loud  enough  to  be  heard  by  Estevan. 

"Santiago,  and  at  them!"  roared  the  steel-clad 
warriors  of  Castile,  Like  a  mountain  torrent  the 
Indians  rushed  down  upon  the  invaders,  overturn 
ing  men  and  horses  in  the  fury  of  their  assault,  so 
that  the  foremost  files  rolled  back  on  those  below, 
spreading  ruin  and  consternation  in  their  ranks. 
Do  Soto  in  vain  endeavored  to  restore  order  and 
charge  the  assailants.  The  horses  were  blinded  and 
maddened  by  the  missiles,  while  the  desperate  na 
tives,  clinging  to  their  necks,  heads,  legs,  and  tails, 
tried  to  prevent  their  progress.  Estevan  cut  down 
two  who  clung  to  his  horse's  head.  Nicosia's 
steed  stumbled  and  fell,  and  had  not  Estevan  hurled 
himself  between  the  fallen  youth  and  his  enemies, 
the  former  would  have  been  run  through  with  In 
dian  spears. 

De  Soto  saw  that  unless  he  gained  the  level 
ground  which  opened  at  some  distance  before  him 
all  would  be  lost.  Cheering  on  his  men  with  the 
old  battle-cry,  which  always  went  to  the  heart  of  a 
Spaniard,  De  Soto  struck  his  spurs  deep  into  the 
sides  of  his  maddened  charger  and  shouted: 
20 


306  ESTEVAN. 

"Follow  all  who  can!" 

Like  a  thunderbolt  he  dashed  upward,  gallantly 
supported  by  his  troops,  and  broke '  through  the 
dark  array  of  Peruvians,  shaking  them  off  to -t^e 
right  and  left  as  a  spaniel  does  the  water  from  his 
sides,  and  finally  succeeded  in  gaining  the  plateau. 
Here,  as  if  by  mutual  consent,  both  parties  paused. 

"  It  has  been  a  hard  struggle,"  Estevan  remarked. 

De  Soto  wiped  away  the  blood  which  flowed  from 
a  trifling  wound  in  his  face  and  turned  to  his  men. 

"Here  is  a  stream  of  water;  let  your  horses 
drink,"  he  said. 

"The  Peruvians  are  all  about  us,"  panted  one  of 
the  almost  exhausted  officers. 

"They  will  fight  no  more  to-night,"  returned  De 
Soto.  "Darkness  is  almost  on  us,  and  they  will 
wait  until  light  of  day  to  renew  the  conflict." 

Both  parties  withdrew  from  the  field,  taking 
positions  within  bow-shot  of  each  other. 

"Have  we  lost  many?"  asked  Estevan,  who  had 
been  so  busily  engaged  in  rescuing  Nicosia  that  he 
had  forgotten  to  note  how  the  battle  was  going. 

"Several  cavaliers  were  slain,  as  well  as  some 
horses, "  answered  De  Soto.  "One  poor  fellow  was 
struck  down  at  my  side  with  a  Peruvian  battle-axe 
which  clove  his  skull  to  the  chin." 

"Who  directed  this  assault  which  came  so  near 
to  being  successful?  It  was  no  ordinary  leader, 


"  KOI.I.ONV.    ALL    WUO    CAN  !" 


A   BANQUET   OF  DEATH.  307 

but  evidently  some  one  of  considerable  military  ex 
perience. " 

"Doubtless  it  was  the  old  Peruvian  general, 
Quiz-quiz,  and  right  well  did  he  plan  the  fight; 
but  we  have  nothing  to  fear.  If  we  were  able  to 
beat  off  the  enemy  while  our  horses  were  jaded  and 
our  strength  nearly  exhausted,  how  much  easier  it 
will  be  to  come  off  victorious  when  all  are  restored 
to  strength  by  a  night's  rest.  Trust  in  the  Almighty 
God,  who  never  deserts  his  faithful  followers  in 
their  extremity." 

Notwithstanding  the  faith  and  assurance  of  De 
Soto,  his  little  band  of  brave  followers,  lying  on 
their  arms,  within  hearing  of  a  powerful  enemy, 
were  by  no  means  comfortable.  Estevan  was  ly 
ing  on  the  ground  listening  to  the  shouts  of  exulta 
tion  of  the  enemy,  who  threatened  to  annihilate 
them  on  the  morrow,  when  a  small  hand  was 
gently  laid  on  his  arm,  and  a  soft  voice  whispered: 

"Do  you  fear  to  die?" 

"No,  Nicosia,  though  I  would  rather  live,  for  I 
have  much  to  live  for." 

"  Should  you  fall  in  the  coming  fight,  senor, 
and  I  survive,  have  you  no  message  to  send  back 
to  loved  ones  at  home?" 

"I  have  a  father  and  mother  in  Cuba,"  he 
answered.  "Tell  them  I  did  my  duty  as  a  soldier 
for  my  king  and  my  God." 


308  ESTEVAN. 

"And  no  other?" 

"Yes,  I  Lave  sisters  and  a  brother  in  that  far-ofl 
island;  you  can  tell  them  the  same,  and  that  I 
never  forgot  them."  ^-^ 

"Is  that  all?  Is  there  none  other  in  all  this 
wide  world  to  whom  you  would  send  a  last  parting 
message?"  the  youth  asked,  with  a  half -suppressed 
sob. 

"Yes!"  he  gasped. 

There  was  one — one  who  amid  toil  and  danger 
was  ever  uppermost  in  his  mind,  and  he  was  about 
to  breathe  aloud,  for  the  first  time,  the  name  of 
Inez,  when  cliffs,  crags,  and  peaks,  echoed  with 
the  blare  of  bugles.  The  sleeping  Spaniards  were 
up  in  a  moment,  and,  seizing  their  own  trumpets, 
gave  forth  a  blast  in  return.  Pizarro  and  Almagro 
were  hurrying  on  through  the  night  to  reinforce  De 
Soto,  whom  they  had  learned  was  hard  pressed. 

The  Peruvians,  dismayed  by  the  reinforcements, 
fled  at  early  dawn  without  striking  a  blow.  The 
victory  was  celebrated  by  mass  with  prayer  and 
thanksgiving,  and  all  went  to  Xauxa. 

While  at  this  town,  the  young  Inca  Toparca,  the 
creature  of  Pizarro,  suddenly  and  mysteriously 
died.  Suspicion  fell  on  the  old  general  Challcu- 
chima,  who  was  also  accused  of  instigating  the 
Peruvians  to  revolt,  in  order  to  secure  his  own 
freedom.  In  the  vale  of  Xaquixaguana,  a  valley 


A    BANQUET   OF  DEATH.  309 

noted  for  its  picturesque  beaut}^  and  delightful 
climate,  the  army  halted  to  bring  Challcuchima  to 
trial. 

"  Another  act  of  cruelty  will  be  perpetrated,"  said 
Estevan  to  DC  Soto.  "Pizarro  is  more  devil  than 
man." 

"  Don't  say  more,"  interposed  Nicosia.  "  It  will 
only  bring  the  hatred  of  Pizarro  in  full  force  on 
you." 

Estevan  promised  his  mysterious  young  friend  to 
say  no  more,  but  he  proved  correct  in  his  surmise; 
for  the  Peruvian  general  was  condemned  to  death 
and  burned  at  the  stake. 

Soon  after  this  barbarous  event  Pizarro  was 
visited  by  the  Peruvian  noble,  Manco  Capac,  a 
brother  of  the  unfortunate  Huascar.  He  announced 
his  pretensions  to  the  throne  and  claimed  protec 
tion  of  the  strangers.  In  this  new  scion  of  the 
royal  stock  Pizarro  saw  a  more  effective  instrument 
for  his  purposes  than  he  could  have  found  in  To- 
parca,  of  the  family  of  Quito,  with  whom  the  Peru 
vians  had  but  little  sympathy.  Pizarro  received 
the  young  man,  therefore,  with  great  cordiality, 
and  assured  him  that  he  had  been  sent  into  the 
country  by  the  king  of  Spain,  in  order  to  vindicate 
the  claims  of  Huascar  to  the  crown  and  to  punish 
the  usurpation  of  his  rival. 

With  the  young  noble  and  his  train  they  set  out 


310  ESTEVAN. 

at  once  for  Cuzco,  and,  after  another  sharp  skirmish 
with  the  natives  in  the  Sierras,  pressed  on  until 
late  one  afternoon  the  conquerors  came  in  sight  of 
the  object  of  their  toils  and  hopes.  The  sun- was 
streaming  in  broad  rays  full  on  the  imperial  city, 
where  many  an  altar  was  dedicated  to  its  worship. 
The  low  ranges  of  buildings  appeared  like  so  many 
lines  of  silver  light,  filling  up  the  bosom  of  the 
valley  and  the  lower  slopes  of  the  mountains,  whose 
shadowy  forms  hung  darkly  over  the  fair  city  as  if 
to  shield  it  from  the  menaced  profanation. 

The  army  camped  near  the  city,  the  soldiers 
sleeping  on  their  arms,  and  on  the  following  day,^ 
the  loth  of  November,  1533,  Pizarro,  forming  his' 
little  army  into  three  divisions,  entered  Cuzco.  A 
countless  multitude  of  natives  had  flocked  from  the 
city  and  surrounding  country  to  witness  the  showy 
and,  to  them,  startling  pageant.  From  their  daz 
zling  arms  and  fair  complexions  they  believed  them 
to  be  real  children  of  the  sun.  As  Estevan  and 
Nicosia  rode  side  by  side  down  the  narrow  street, 
they  were  amazed  at  what  they  beheld.  The 
splendor  and  wealth  that  abounded  in  the  utmost 
profusion  bewildered  them.  They  were  lost  in 
wonder  and  admiration  at  the  magnificent  Temple 
of  the  Sun,  with  its  gardens  and  broad  parterres 
gleaming  with  gold.  The  exterior  ornaments  were 
quickly  removed  by  the  soldiers,  but  the  frieze 


A    BANQUET   OF   DEATH.  311 

of  gold,  which,  imbedded  in  the  stones,  encircled 
the  principal  buildings,  remained. 

Pizarro  had  issued  a  proclamation  forbidding  the 
molestation  of  private  dwellings,  but  public  build 
ings  were  regarded  as  objects  of  plunder,  and  their 
interior  decorations  supplied  them  with  considerable 
booty.  They  stripped  off  the  jewels  and  rich  or 
naments  that  garnished  the  royal  mummies  in  the 
temple  of  Coricaucha.  No  place  was  left  unex 
plored,  and  many  of  the  natives  were  tortured  to 
make  them  reveal  the  hiding-places  of  their  treasure. 
In  a  cavern  near  the  city  they  found  a  number  of 
vases  of  pure  gold,  richly  embossed  with  the  figures 
of  serpents,  locusts,  and  other  animals.  Among 
the  spoil  were  four  golden  llamas  and  tenor  twelve 
statues  of  women,  some  of  pure  gold,  others  of 
silver,  all  figures  being  life-size.  Several  of  these 
were  reserved  for  the  royal  fifth  and  sent  to  Spain 
in  their  original  form,  where  they  are  preserved  to 
this  day  in  the  royal  museum.  In  one  place  they 
found  ten  silver  planks  or  bars,  each  being  twenty 
feet  in  length,  one  foot  wide  and  two  and  three 
inches  in  thickness.  The  possession  of  this  enor 
mous  wealth  brought  about  a  spirit  of  gambling 
among  the  soldiers,  and  with  it  a  spirit  of  improvi 
dence,  to  which  the  Spaniards  owed  much  of  the 
misery  and  trouble  that  followed. 

A  short  season  of  rest  and  peace,  very  grateful 


312  ESTEVAN. 

to  Estevan  and  Nicosia  after  toilsome  marches  and 
conflicts,  followed  the  entrance  into  Cuzco.  Este 
van  Lad  noticed  that  the  spirits  of  Nicosia  were 
drooping.  Hardship,  excitement,  and  bloodshed 
were  too  much  for  his  young  and  tender  nerves ;  lifc" 
gave  way  to  nervous  prostration,  and  for  days  was 
unable  to  leave  his  cot.  While  the  soldiers  were 
gambling  away  their  share  of  the  booty,  Estevan 
remained  at  the  side  of  his  young  friend  to  nurse 
him  back  to  health.  One  day  when  Nicosia  was 
convalescent,  De  Soto  came  to  the  apartment. 

"  I  have  news  for  you,"  said  the  cavalier.  "  Manco 
is  to  be  crowned  on  the  day  after  to-morrow." 

"  And  become  another  tool  in  the  hands  of 
Pizarro,"  put  in  Estevan. 

"You  speak  truly,  Estevan.  I  have  become  so 
thoroughly  disgusted  with  the  perfidious  conduct 
of  Pizarro,  that  I  have  resolved  to  quit  Peru  and 
return  to  Spain." 

"You  have  some  object  in  view,  De  Soto?" 

"I  will  admit  that  I  have.  With  Pizarro  we 
have  both  won  gold;  but  perhaps  we  have  incurred 
the  ill  will  of  the  general  by  stubbornly  opposing 
his  inhumanity.  Why  may  not  we  lead  the  hosts 
of  Spain  to  new  conquests  as  well  as  Pizarro?  I 
do  not  mean  to  usurp  his  power;  but  there  are 
other  fields  as  rich  or  perhaps  richer  than  Peru  or 
Mexico. " 


A    BANQUET   OF  DEATH.  313 

"Where?" 

"  Have  you  not  heard  of  Florida,  discovered 
by  Ponce  de  Leon  nearly  twenty  years  ago,  and 
which  Panfilo  de  Narvaez  sought  to  conquer,  but 
failed?" 

"Yes;  but  neither  found  cities  nor  gold  in  large 
quantities." 

"But  a  soldier  under  Narvaez  said  they  heard  of 
a  vast  hill  of  pure  gold.  That  hill  or  mountain  in 
the  north  is  worth  more  than  Mexico  or  Peru. 
I  shall  leave  the  army  as  soon  as  practicable,  hasten 
to  Spain,  and,  with  my  wealth  and  influence,  pro 
cure  a  commission  to  conquer  that  part  of  the  new 
world  called  Florida.  I  want  to  be  an  explorer,  a 
conqueror,  and  a  colonizer.  It  is  to  the  north  and 
not  the  south  of  the  New  World  that  all  Europe 
will  one  day  turn  their  eyes." 

"May  I  go  with  you,  De  Soto?"  asked  Estevan. 

"You  shall." 

"And  I  too?"  put  in  Nicosia. 

"Alas,  poor  boy,  have  you  not  already  had 
enough  of  hardship  and  toil?" 

"  If  he  goes,  I  also  will  go,"  was  Nicosia's  answer. 

"It  shall  be  as  you  say." 

For  a  moment  Estevan  was  silent,  his  eyes  fixed 
on  the  strange  youth ;  then,  turning  to  De  Soto,  he 
said,  "De  Soto,  I  have  one  favor  to  ask.  When 
you  go  to  Spam,  intercede  for  me  that  the  hatred 


314  ESTEVAN. 

of  Velasquez  may  no  longer  keep  me  from  those  I 
love  in  Cuba." 

Nicosia  started  up  from  his  seat  and  clasped  his 
hand  over  his  heart,  as  if  in  pain.  Both  gazed  after 
him  as  he  averted  his  face  and  left  the  apartment> 
De  Soto  promised  to  intercede  for  Estevan;  but  his 
mind  recurred  to  the  Indian  youth. 

"He  is  no  Indian;  dark  as  is  his  skin,  I  believe 
there  flows  the  purest  Castilian  blood  in  his  veins." 

"He  is  a  mystery,"  Estevan  answered. 

They  were,  at  this  point  of  their  conversation, 
interrupted  by  wild  yells  and  rejoicings.  On  look 
ing  out  to  determine  the  cause,  they  discovered 
that  the  natives  were  making  all  the  hubbub  over '. 
the  announcement  that  Manco,  the  legitimate  son 
of  Huana  Capac,  was  to  be  crowned  Inca. 

"Everything  will  be  done  to  maintain  the  illu 
sion  with  the  Indian  population,"  remarked  De 
Soto,  as  he  viewed  their  antics  of  joy.  "Poor 
fools,  they  are  only  tightening  the  shackles  about 
their  wrists." 

The  young  prince  kept  the  prescribed  fasts  and 
vigils;  and  on  the  appointed  day  the  nobles,  peo 
ple,  and  all  the  Spanish  soldiery  assembled  in  the 
great  square  to  witness  the  concluding  ceremonies. 

"What  hollow  mockery!"  thought  Estevan,  as 
Father  Valverde  performed  mass,  and  gave  to  Manco 
Capac  the  fringed  diadem  of  Peru.  The  Indian 


A   BANQUET   OF  DEATH.  315 

lords  now  tendered  their  obeisance  in  the  customary 
form,  after  which  the  royal  notary  read  aloud  the 
instrument  asserting  the  supremacy  of  the  Castilian 
crown,  and  requiring  the  homage  of  all  present  to 
its  authority,  which  ceremony  was  performed  by 
Inca  and  nobles,  each  waving  the  royal  banner 
twice  or  thrice  with  his  hands.  Manco  next  pledged 
the  Spanish  commander  in  a  golden  goblet  of 
sparkling  chicha,  and  the  trumpets  announced  the 
conclusion  of  the  ceremony. 

There  followed  another,  far  more  interesting  to 
Estevan  on  account  of  its  novelty.  The  accession 
of  the  young  monarch  was  greeted  with  all  the 
usual  fetes  and  rejoicings.  The  mummies  of  his 
royal  ancestors,,  with  such  ornaments  as  were  still 
left  them,  were  paraded  in  the  great  square  or  plaza 
de  royal.  They  were  attended  each  by  his  numer 
ous  retinue,  who  performed  all  the  menial  offices, 
as  if  the  object  of  them  were  alive  and  could  feel 
their  import.  Each  ghastly  form  was  seated  at  the 
banquet-table — now,  alas,  stripped  of  the  magnifi 
cent  service  with  which  it  was  wont  to  blaze  at 
these  high  festivities — and  the  guests  drank  deep 
to  the  illustrious  dead.  Dancing  succeeded  the 
banquet,  and  the  festivities,  prolonged  to  a  late 
hour,  were  continued  night  after  night  by  the  giddy 
population,  as  if  their  conquerors  were  not  en 
trenched  in  the  capital. 


316  ESTEVAN. 

"With,  the  seizure  of  Cuzco  and  the  coronation  of 
Manco,  the  subjugation  of  Peru  was  practically 
completed.  That  determined  old  warrior,  Quizquiz, 
and  a  few  followers  continued  to  hold  out  "in  the 
mountains.  Almagro,  with  a  force  in  which  were 
Estevan  and  Nicosia,  was  sent  to  disperse  them. 

Near  Xauxa  a  terrible  battle  was  fought,  in  which 
the  Indians  were  routed  and  the  brave  old  Quizquiz 
slain  by  his  own  warriors,  which  put  an  end  to 
further  resistance.  During  the  hottest  of  the  fight 
Estevan,  with  visor  down  and  lance  couched, 
charged  into  the  thickest  of  the  conflict,  Nicosia 
riding  at  his  side. 

Suddenly  the  youth's  light  charger  was  seen  to  * 
rear  in  the  air,  and  Estevan  heard  a  wild  shriek, 
which,  now  undisguised,  had  to  him  a  familiar 
sound.  Nicosia's  horse  dropped  dead,  and  he  fell 
heavily  on  the  ground.  His  casque,  becoming 
loose,  rolled  from  his  head.  In  a  moment  Estevan 
dismounted  and  raised  the  insensible  youth  in  his 
arms.  The  wave  of  battle  swept  on  and  left  him 
alone  with  the  insensible  lad.  He  carried  him  to 
a  brooklet,  bathed  his  face,  took  off  his  breast-plate 
and  tore  open  the  doublette  to  give  him  air.  Then 
he  started  back  with  a  cry  of  astonishment. 

Nicosia  was  a  woman. 

Estevan  had  always  noticed  something  familiar 
in  the  manner  and  voice  of  the  lad;  but  the  shorn 


A   BANQUET   OF  DEATH.  317 

locks  and  slight  disguise  had  imposed  on  him,  as  a 
stranger,  his  foster  sister  Chnstoval  Balboa.  The 
sounds  of  conflict  rolled  still  farther  away,  leaving 
them  alone  in  the  forest.  He  proceeded  to  bathe 
her  face  and  restore  her  to  consciousness.  When 
at  last  she  opened  her  eyes,  he  spoke  to  her: 

"Christoval,  sister,  I  recognize  you  at  last. 
Why  did  you  disguise  yourself  and  go  with  the 
army?" 

"To  be  with  you,"  she  answered,  no  longer  dis 
guising  her  voice. 

"You  must  return  to  Cuba  at  once." 

"And  you?" 

"I  dare  not  go  until  my  pardon  is  obtained. 
Meanwhile  I  will  wa-it  at  Panama  or  Darien." 

"  Cannot  I  go  there  also?" 

"No,  you  have  been  too  long  from  our  parents; 
go  to  them  with  my  blessing." 

He  kept  her  secret;  at  the  first  opportunity  she 
was  sent  to  Cuba;  and  a  week  later  he  sailed  for 
Panama. 


CHAPTER   XXI. 

THE    SECRET    MARRIAGE. 

WITH  a  strange  feeling  of  fear  and  hope,  Chris 
topher  Estevan  saw  the  town  of  Panama  come  in 
sight.  Would  he  find  Inez  there?  Was  she  still 
true  to  him,  or  had  some  other  won  her  in  his  ab 
sence?  Bay  and  shore  loomed  up  to  view;  then 
fort  and  castle,  and  finally,  rounding  a  point  of 
headland,  the  whole  town  lay  before  them. 

The  deafening  boom  of  cannon  announced  their 
approach,  and  from  the  fort  came,  in  response,  a 
succession  of  heavy  shots,  awakening  the  echoes 
of  all  the  surrounding  hills.  The  ship  came  to 
anchor,  and  cheer  after  cheer  rang  out  on  the  air 
from  ship  and  shore.  There  was  the  excitement 
and  confusion  usual  on  the  arrival  of  a  vessel,  and 
boats  put  off  from  shore  to  learn  the  very  latest 
from  Peru. 

Estevan  landed  among  the  first  and  was  sur 
rounded  by  scores  of  people  eager  to  learn  full  par 
ticulars  of  that  remarkable  conquest  of  which  they 
318 


THE   SECRET  MARRIAGE.  319 

had  only  heard  the  wildest  rumors.  As  soon  as 
possible  he  rid  himself  of  the  questioners,  and  made 
his  way  to  a  small  public-house,  where  he  ordered 
food.  The  proprietor,  a  fat  old  Spaniard,  as 
anxious  to  impart  the  information  he  had  as  to  gain 
more,  brought  the  refreshments,  and,  seating  him 
self  by  the  side  of  his  guest,  began  a  fire  of  ques 
tions. 

"Where  do  you  live?"  was  the  first  one. 

"In  St.  Jago,  Cuba,"  Estevan  answered. 

"  Are  you  going  there  at  once?" 

"No." 

"To  Spain?" 

"I  do  not  know  yet." 

"Your  plans  have  not  been  formed?" 

"Not  yet." 

Then  came  a  silence.  The  fat  Spaniard  poured 
for  himself  a  mug  of  wine,  and,  drinking  it  off, 
resumed  : 

"Well,  of  course  you  know  your  business ;  but  I 
should  go  to  Peru." 

"You  have  an  excellent  opportunity  to  go," 
Estevan  answered. 

"Ah,  not  at  my  age;  but  if  I  were  a  young  fel 
low  and  not  quite  so  stout,  you  know,  [  should 
enjoy  nothing  better  than  the  land  where  so  much 
wealth  abounds." 

"How  long   have   you    lived    here?"    Estevan 


320  ESTEVAN. 

asked,  to  change  the  subject,  and  gain  the  informa 
tion  he  so  much  desired. 

"Nine  years  ago,  senor,  I  came  from  old  Spain. 
I  was  born  and  reared  atTruxillo;  yes,  senor,  tight 
in  the  same  town  with  Pizarro.  I  knew  the  rogu% 
when  a  lad.  He  was  naught  but  a  swine-herd 
then;  but,  St.  Anthony!  see  to  what  he  has 
arisen." 

Estevan  cared  nothing  for  the  early  life  of  his 
host,  nor  was  he  interested  in  the  biography  of 
Pizarro.  His  wish  was  to  gain  some  information 
from  the  garrulous  fellow  without  exposing  his 
design. 

"You  must  know  almost  every  one  in  Panama?"* 

"Verily,  senor,  I  do,  and  I  saw  Pizarro  and 
Almagro  both  when  they  were  here.  Many  is  the 
time  that  they  drank  and  ate  at  this  board." 

"Do  you  know  Oviedo?" 

"The  chronicler  who  carne  with  Ojeda  toDarien, 
you  mean?  I  know  him  right  well,  senor. " 

"I  don't  mean  him,  but  his  brother,  Don 
Oviedo,"  explained  Estevan. 

"You  refer  to  the  rich  hidalgo  who  came  from 
Spain  three  or  four  years  ago?" 

"I  do." 

"I  have  seen  him." 

"Does  he  live  here?" 

"That  he  does." 


THE  SECRET  MARRIAGE.  321 

"Where?" 

"Come  with  rne  to  this  door,  sefior,  and  I  will 
show  you.  Look  at  the  castle  upon  the  hill  and 
you  will  see  his  place  of  abode," 

He  led  Estevan  to  the  door  of  the  house  and 
pointed  out  a  castle  which  stood  on  a  considerable 
eminence.  Estevan  returned  to  the  table  and  the 
garrulous  old  Spaniard  followed  him,  keeping  up 
a  lively  conversation  on  every  subject  except  that 
which  interested  his  auditor.  Without  abandoning 
hope,  Estevan  continued  to  ply  him  with  questions 
whenever  he  had  an  opportunity  to  do  so. 

"Does  the  old  Don  live  alone?"  he  asked. 

"Yes,  alone." 

"Quite  alone?" 

"Quite  alone,  sefior,  with  no  one  but  his  ser 
vants  and  daughter,  the  Dona  Inez;  but  if  all 
rumors  be  true,  I  suppose  they  will  not  long  live 
a  lonely  life." 

"Why?"  asked  Estevan,  his  heart  beating  wildly 
within  his  breast. 

"  Why,  I  have  heard  that  he  is  soon  to  have  a 
son-in-law,  the  gallant  Antonio  Velasquez,  nephew 
to  the  governor  of  Cuba." 

Estevan  bounded  to  his  feet,  as  if  his  flesh  had 
been  pricked  by  a  lance.      He  could  not  utter  a 
word,  and,  to  conceal  his  emotion,  he  hastened  out 
into  open  air. 
21 


322  ESTEVAN. 

"Can  it  be  true? — oh,  can  it  be  true?"  he  asked 
himself,  as  he  hurried  from  the  town.  Reaching 
the  outer  gate  he  ran  from  it  to  the  woods,  and, 
sinking  down  upon  a  stone,  covered  his  face  with 
his  hands.  "What  are  all  the  honors  and  all  th£ 
wealth  won  in  Peru  to  me,  now?"  he  groaned. 
"  She  for  whom  this  treasure  was  earned  and  these 
laurels  won  is  false.  Inez,  the  only  being  whose 
love  and  esteem  I  crave,  has  changed  with  time. 
But,  no,  I  will  not  upbraid  her.  There  was,  per 
haps,  a  father's  influence  against  me;  and,  doubt 
less,  she  did  not  know  that  I  lived.  Saint  Anthony 
forgive  me  if  I  have  wronged  her!" 

He  turned  his  eyes  upon  the  great,  gloomy  castle* 
which  stood  near  the  summit  of  a  cliff  overlooking 
the  sea,  forming  one  of  the  impregnable  strong 
holds  of  Panama.  Perhaps  Velasquez,  his  bitterest 
enemy,  was  even  then  at  her  side.  The  distracted 
lover  wandered  up  the  hill  nearer  to  the  castle,  then 
returned  to  the  town  and  sought,  by  mingling  with 
the  people,  to  forget.  Why  had  fate  played  such 
cruel  pranks  with  him?  Why  was  he  destined  to 
meet  her  only  to  be  plunged  in  misery  forever 
after?  Why  was  he  not  slain  in  the  many  hard- 
fought  battles  in  Peru,  or  why  had  he  not  returned 
broken  in  health  or  impoverished  in  purse,  as  so 
many  others  had  done?  His  vast  riches  and  robust 
health  seemed  only  to  add  to  his  misery.  It  was 


THE   SECRET  MARRIAGE.  323 

many  days  before  he  dared  venture  again  up  to  the 
hill,  or  even  beyond  the  walls  of  Panama. 

A  caravan  was  coming  from  Darien,  and  from 
the  top  of  an  eminence  he  made  out  the  man  riding 
farthest  in  the  rear  to  be  his  enemy,  Antonio 
Velasquez.  He  was  coming,  no  doubt,  to  claim  his 
bride.  Estevan,  hardly  knowing  what  he  did,  ran 
down  the  hill  to  intercept  his  rival,  who  rode  some 
distance  in  the  rear  of  his  companions.  The 
cavalcade  had  disappeared  over  the  brow  of  the  hill 
when  they  met,  and  there  was  no  eye  but  God's  to 
witness  the  fierce  encounter.  A  few  wild  words, 
and  then  the  ready  blades  leaped  from  their  scab 
bards;  but  Antonio  was  no  match  for  one  of 
Pizarro's  battle-trained  conquerors.  His  sword 
whirled  from  his  hand,  and  his  rival  felled  him  by 
a  blow.  Estevan  raised  his  sword  to  plunge  it  into 
Antonio's  body;  but,  too  proud  to  stab  a  fallen 
foe,  he  turned  away,  not  knowing  whether  his  rival 
was  slain  or  only  stunned. 

An  hour  later  a  man,  pale  and  covered  with 
blood,  made  his  way  to  a  road-side  cottage.  He 
was  too  weak  to  explain  how  he  had  received  the 
gash  on  his  head.  It  was  the  wretched  Antonio. 
The  peasant  who  took  him  in  knew  him  not; 
but,  finding  him  weak  and  delirious,  sent  for  a 
doctor  of  medicine  to  come  and  heal  his  wounds. 
Velasquez  was  near  to  death's  door,  and  it  was 


334  ESTEVAN. 

weeks   before   lie    could  speak   the   name    of   his 
assailant. 

When  the  first  burst  of  passion  was  over,  Estevan 
felt  guilty  of  murder,  for  he  had  provoked ^tlje 
quarrel.  Like  a  lost  spirit,  he  wandered  through 
the  hills  and  forests  seeking  to  excuse  himself  by 
the  loose  code  of  morals  of  that  day  for  the  assault, 
and,  perhaps,  the  death  of  Antonio. 

One  day  as  he  wandered  through  the  forest,  he 
came  face  to  face  with  a  Spaniard  whom  he  recog 
nized  at  a  glance  as  his  guide  from  Salamanca  to 
Seville.  The  recognition  was  mutual,  and  the  men 
advanced  to  greet  each  other. 

"  Many  years  have  elapsed,  and  many  great  events  " 
transpired,  friend,  since  we  met;  but  I  have  not 
forgotten  you,  and  once  more  allow  me  to  thank 
you,  good  fellow!"  cried  Estevan,  seizing  the  man's 
hand. 

"Nay,  nay,  senor! — thank  not  me,  for  I  but 
did  the  bidding  of  my  mistress,  the  Doila  Inez 
Oviedo." 

Estevan  started  at  the  name  as  if  he  felt  a  sud 
den  throb  of  pain;  then,  hardly  knowing  why,  he 
asked,  eagerly: 

"Is  she  in  yonder  castle?" 

"She  is,  sefior." 

"I  would  that  I  could  see  her!  Does  she  know 
I  am  at  Panama?" 


THE  SECRET  MARRIAGE.  325 

"She  heard  of  your  arrival." 

"Then  she  cares  naught  forme,  or  she  would 
have  sent  me  some  word  of  welcome.  What  can 
she  care  for  me?  She  is  to  wed  my  rival  and  bit 
terest  enemy."  He  turned  away  to  put  an  end  to 
it  all  by  returning  to  Peru,  or  sailing  for  Mexico. 
But,  seized  by  some  strange  impulse,  he  wheeled 
about. 

"Can  I  see  her?"  he  asked. 

"Does  the  seflor  wish  it?" 

"Yes." 

"Then  he  can." 

"When?" 

"  What  time  would  suit  the  seilor  best?" 

"Let  it  be  at  the  earliest  possible  moment." 

Despite  all  that  had  passed,  he  felt  within  his 
breast  a  strange  hope  arising. 

"If  the  seilor  will  be  at  the  large  stone  called  the 
Shadow  Rock,  at  moonrise  to-night.  Dona  Inez  will 
join  him  there,"  said  the  servant. 

Of  course  he  would.  There  was  something  so 
friendly  in  the  attendant's  manner  that  Estevan 
grasped  his  hand,  called  him  a  good  fellow,  and 
went  away,  buoyant  with  unreasoning  hope.  As  the 
moon  was  climbing  the  eastern  mountains  Estevan 
hastened  to  the  Shadow  Rock.  He  had  not  long 
to  wait.  Footsteps  were  heard  approaching,  and, 
with  palpitating  heart  and  trembling  form,  he  stood 


326  ESTEVAN. 

in  the  deeper  shadows  until  he  saw  a  slender  figure, 
enveloped  in  a  dark  cloak,  coming,  followed  at  a 
respectful  distance  by  a  male  and  female  servant. 
He  started  along  the  path  with  outstretched  han'dj 
murmuring  the  single  word — 

"Inez!" 

"Christopher!" 

He  started,  and  stopped.  She  did  the  same. 
Both  hesitated  for  a  moment,  and  gazed  at  each 
other  in  the  full  gleam  of  the  moonlight,  and  then, 
casting  aside  reserve,  jealousy,  and  everything 
which  had  made  life  miserable,  he  sprang  toward 
her,  and  clasped  her  in  his  arms.  Before  they; 
were  aware  of  it  themselves,  they  were  in  the  dense 
shadow  of  the  rock,  where,  free  from  the  gaze  of 
others,  they  plighted  anew  their  vows.  She  told 
how  she  had  all  these  years  pined  for  him ;  she  had 
learned  of  his  arrival;  but,  as  he  seemed  cold  and 
indifferent,  her  pride  would  not  permit  her  to  say 
that  she  was  dying  to  see  him.  Why  had  she  not 
answered  the  letter  left  for  her  on  his  departure  for 
Panama?  She  knew  nothing  of  his  ever  having 
written  such  a  letter.  Someone  had  intercepted  it. 
Was  it  her  father?  No,  he  was  not  a  cruel  parent. 
He  had  forbidden  their  marriage  until  Estevan's 
trouble  with  the  governor  of  Cuba  was  settled  to 
the  young  Spaniard's  credit;  but  he  was  not  a 
personal  enemy  of  her  lover,  and  he  would  not 


THE   SECRET   MARRIAGE.  327 

stoop  to  such  mean  actions  as  intercepting  let 
ters. 

"Are  you  to  marry  Velasquez?"  Estevan asked. 

"No!  How  did  such  an  absurd  story  ever  reach 
your  ears?" 

He  blushed  to  admit  that  his  credulity  had  no 
other  foundation  than  the  report  of  a  gossiping  old 
inn-keeper.  Velasquez  had  been  an  occasional 
caller  at  the  castle  on  one  pretence  or  another,  which 
had  probably  given  rise  to  the  rumor  that  they  were 
betrothed.  She  had  never  thought  of  him  as  a 
suitor. 

The  meeting  at  the  Shadow  Rock  was  productive 
of  so  much  happiness  that  it  was  repeated  again 
and  again,  until  the  lovers  scarce  missed  a  night. 
Estevan  saw  the  old  Don  once,  and  urged  him  to 
give  his  consent  to  their  union.  The  hidalgo 
listened  to  him  until  he  hai  finished. 

"Dare  you  return  to  Cuba?"  he  asked. 

"No,  sen  or,  for  I  am  unjustly  charged  with 
treason." 

"  Then  remove  that  charge  and  I  will  interpose 
no  further  objection  to  your  marriage  with  my 
daughter." 

"Father  is  unjust,"  said  Inez,  when  Estevan 
gave  his  answer.  "  Had  he  my  happiness  at  heart 
he  would  go  to  Cuba  and  investigate  the  matter 
himself}  then  I  know  lie  would  give  his  consent," 


328  ESTEVAN. 

Estevan,  finding  the  parent  inexorable,  began  to 
urge  her  to  consent  to  a  secret  marriage.  He  knew 
a  priest  wlio  would  perform  the  marriage  rites  and 
keep  their  secret.  They  might  wait  for  long, 
weary  years  before  the  stain  of  treason  was  removed 
from  his  name,  though  he  hoped  that  De  Soto,  who 
was  now  in  Spain,  would  effect  his  vindication. 
But  royal  favors  come  slowly,  and  one  as  obscure 
as  the  young  cavalier  might  wait  long  before  his 
pardon  came. 

"  If  De  Soto  does  not  succeed,  I  will  myself  go 
to  Spain  and  plead  my  own  cause.  Meanwhile, 
you  need  a  stronger  protector  than  your  father, 
who  grows  more  feeble  every  year.  Give  me  the 
right  as  your  husband  to  defend  you!" 

She  yielded  at  last  to  his  urgent  entreaty.  With 
only  her  trusty  servants  and  two  faithful  friends, 
all  sworn  to  secresy,  they  went  to  the  small  monas 
tery  at  midnight,  where  Inez  became  the  wife  of 
Estevan.  Then  followed  a  long,  sweet  honeymoon 
in  secret.  Occasionally  he  was  permitted  to  come 
to  the  castle;  but  they  usually  stole  away  for  days 
together,  and  passed  the  time  at  the  house  of  a 
mutual  friend,  or  took  short  voyages  in  Estevan's 
caravel . 

Thus  more  than  a  year  glided  by  in  blissful  joy. 
Cheerful  tidings  came  from  Spain,  calculated  to 
inspire  the  hope  that  De  Soto  would  yet  succeed  in 


THE  SECRET  MARRIAGE.  329 

restoring  to  the  young  husband  all  his  ancient 
rights  and  privileges  in  Cuba.  The  marriage  was 
still  kept  a  secret,  for  neither  of  them  dared  brave 
the  wrath  of  an  angry  father. 

One  evening,  as  Estevan  strolled  about  Panama 
in  the  full  glory  of  a  southern  moon,  he  saw  a 
horseman  riding  a  tired  steed  at  a  furious  pace  up 
the  hill.  Stopping  his  reeking  horse  directly  be 
fore  the  young  cavalier,  he  asked: 

"Do  you  know  one  Estevan  from  Cuba?" 

"I  am  he;  what  will  you  with  me?"  he  asked. 

"I  have  sad  news  for  you,  seiior.  Your  father 
lies  at  death's  door,  and  I  am  sent  to  fetch  you 
secretly  to  Cuba.  A  caravel  with  a  picked  crew 
awaits  at  Darien  and,  by  taking  the  nearest  route, 
with  good  horses,  and  God  and  the  saints  willing  it, 
we  may  cross  the  isthmus  before  another  sun  sets." 

Dared  he  venture  to  Cuba?  His  father  was  dy 
ing.  His  mother  and  brother  had  sent  for  him, 
and  he  would  brave  all  danger.  While  a  servant 
was  sent  to  bring  fresh  horses  for  the  overland 
journey  to  Darien,  Estevan  wrote  a  letter  to  his 
wife  explaining  his  sudden  departure,  and  assuring 
her  he  would  return  as  soon  as  possible.  This 
letter  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  their  friend  the 
priest,  and,  as  the  horses  were  ready,  they  hastened 
on  their  long,  dark  ride. 

The  isthmus  was  crossed,  the  caravel  found,  and, 


330  ESTEVAN. 

boarding  it,  they  sailed  away  to  Cuba.  Estevan 
landed  in  disguise  on  a  wild  shore,  and  was  con 
ducted  by  his  younger  brother  to  the  home  of  his 
parents.  His  father  was  suffering  and  dying  -frijm 
the  effect  of  old  wounds  received  in  Mexico. 
Hardship,  wounds,  and  long  exposure  had  under 
mined  his  vigorous  constitution,  and  he  was  rapidly 
sinking.  He  yet  had  strength  enough  left  to  seize 
the  hand  of  his  son. 

"Christopher,  my  son,"  he  said,  gazing  into  his 
face,  "I  leave  you  to  complete  the  conquest!"  He 
was  too  weak  to  say  more. 

His  parents  and  relatives  had  heard  good  reports ' 
of  his  bravery  in  Peru.      Christoval's  adventures* 
were  known,  also,  to  all  the  family,  but  were  kept 
a  secret.      Estevan  told  no  one  of  his  secret  mar 
riage;  for,  until  his  wife  gave  him  permission,  no 
one  was  to  know  of  it. 

While  at  home,  he  was  more  strongly  than  ever 
impressed  with  the  tender  watchfulness  of  his  foster 
sister  Christoval.  She  became  a  self-constituted 
spy,  always  on  the  lookout  for  some  of  the  gov 
ernor's  officials.  Antonio  had  returned  from 
Panama  as  soon  as  he  was  able,  and  spread  a  wild 
report  of  an  attempted  robbery  and  murder  of  him 
self  by  Estevan,  \vhom  he  so  maligned  that  all  Cuba 
came  to  look  upon  him  as  an  outlaw. 

The  father  sank  rapidly,  and,  four  weeks  after 


THE   SECRET  MARRIAGE.  331 

the  arrival  of  his  son,  died  and  was  buried  near  the 
town  of  St.  Jago.  When  the  funeral  obsequies 
were  over,  Christopher,  who  had  lived  all  the  while 
in  concealment,  took  leave  of  his  relatives  and 
secretly  departed  for  Panama.  It  was  a  dark  night 
when  he  left  his  childhood's  home.  Christoval 
and  his  brother  accompanied  him  to  the  shore 
where  he  was  to  embark.  As  he  stood  on  the 
rocky  beach,  awaiting  the  boat  which  was  to  con 
vey  him  to  the  vessel,  he  was  left  alone  for  a  few 
moments  with  Christoval  Balboa. 

"Will  you  ever  come  back  to  Cuba  to  live 
again?"  she  asked  in  a  voice  which  betrayed  more 
bitter  grief  than  if  it  had  been  drowned  in  tears. 

"The  saints  grant  that  I  may  soon  return,  Chris 
toval,  and  never  be  forced  to  leave  you  again!"  he 
answered,  clasping  her  to  his  breast,  and  imprinting 
a  brotherly  kiss  on  her  lips. 

Heavens!  how  she  starts!  how  her  heart  gives 
one  wild  throb,  and  then  seems  to  stand  still!  The 
rich,  hot  blood  mantles  her  neck  and  face,  while, 
gasping  for  breath,  she  seems  about  to  swoon. 

"Holy  Virgin!   Christoval,  are  you  ill?" 

"No,  no,  no;  it  is  gone  now.  I  am  better — 
much  better. 

The  boat  ran  up  alongside  the  rocks  at  this  mo 
ment,  and  the  boatmen  called  to  him  to  come  aboard. 
He  tore  himself  away  from  the  brave  girl  who  had 


333  ESTEVAN. 

risked  life,  health,  and  honor  for  him,  was  rowed 
away  to  the  caravel,  and  taken  back  to  Panama. 

De  Soto  had  meanwhile  made  his  way  to  Spain, 
and,  repairing  to  Yalladolid,  laid  before  the  king 
his  plans  for  the  conquest  of  Florida.  Charles  "V^ 
granted  his  request,  and  the  commission  was  given 
him.  Being  dissatisfied  with  the  governor  of  Cuba, 
the  ruling  incumbent  was  removed,  and  Hernando 
De  Soto  appointed  in  his  stead.  The  cavalier  was 
already  rich  and  powerful,  but  he  longed  for  fame. 
While  in  Spain  he  married  a  lady  of  noble  family. 
Mustering  the  finest  army  at  Seville  which  had 
ever  started  for  conquest  in  the  New  World,  he 
sailed  for  Cuba,  where  he  arrived  late  in  the  year' 
1538.  Learning  that  Estevan,  for  whom  he  had 
obtained  a  pardon,  was  still  at  Panama,  he  dis 
patched  a  messenger  for  him. 

Estevan  was  not  informed  by  the  messenger  that 
a  full  pardon  had  been  granted  him  by  the  king, 
nor  did  he  know  that  he  had  received  an  appoint 
ment  in  the  army  of  the  new  governor.  The  fact 
that  he  was  invited  to  Cuba  by  De  Soto  was 
sufficient  inducement  for  him  to  obey  at  once.  He 
had  a  secret  meeting  with  his  wife,  told  her  all, 
and  hoped  for  the  best.  Then  he  bid  her  an 
affectionate  farewell,  little  dreaming  that  months 
and  years  of  toil,  danger,  and  privation  would  elapse 
before  he  saw  her 


THE   SECRET  MARRIAGE.  333 

De  Soto  was  at  Havana,  and  thither  Estevan  re 
paired,  where  all  his  good  fortune  was  explained 
to  him,  and  he  was  urged  to  take  a  command  in 
the  two  vessels  to  be  sent  out  at  once  to  explore 
the  harbors  of  Florida.  He  was  so  grateful  to  his 
friend  for  having  procured  his  pardon,  and  so 
anxious  to  engage  again  in  an  adventurous  career, 
that  he  accepted  the  command.  The  vessels  were 
to  sail  the  next  day,  and  De  Soto  declared  that 
much  of  their  future  success  depended  on  Este- 
van's  immediate  departure.  That  night  Estevan 
wrote  two  letters;  one  to  his  wife,  telling  her  of 
his  pardon  and  restoration  to  good  citizenship  in 
Cuba,  of  his  command  in  the  army,  and  his  imme 
diate  departure  for  Florida,  a  new  conquest  and  the 
founding  of  a  new  empire.  The  other  letter  was 
to  his  mother.  He  told  her  of  his  first  meeting 
with  Inez  in  Spain,  of  their  betrothal,  of  Velas 
quez,  his  own  adventures  in  Peru,  and  lastly  of  his 
secret  marriage.  He  concluded  as  follows: 

"Don  Oviedo  will  probably  forgive  us  and  accept  me  as 
his  son  ;  but  whether  he  does  or  not,  invite  tliis  new- 
daughter  to  your  home  and  care  for  her  as  you  would 
your  own.  She  will  be  lonely  while  I  am  gone  ;  but  I 
hope  soon  to  return,  laden  with  riches  and  honors  as  my 
father  before  me  came  from  Mexico.  Adieu  ! 
"Your  son, 

"  CHRISTOPHER  ESTEVAN.  " 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

AN    INDIAN    GIRL'S    LOVE. 

ESTEVAN'S  ships  reached  Florida,  and  after  coast 
ing  along  the  low  shores  and  through  waters  that 
were  safe  enough  for  them  to  venture  in,  he,  with 
a  dozen  men,  went  on  land.  They  saw  a  few  na 
tives,  who  watched  them  shyly  from  the  woods, 
but  did  not  venture  to  come  near  them.  Perhaps 
they  had  some  recollection  of  the  former  visit  of 
Narvaez,  ten  years  before,  and  were  suspicious. 
After  some  considerable  trouble,  Estevan  managed 
to  capture  two  of  the  natives,  whom  he  sent  back  to 
Cuba  in  one  of  the  ships,  while  he  remained  in  the 
other  at  an  island. 

The  Indian  captives,  on  reaching  Havana,  were 
taken  to  De  Soto,  who  conversed  with  them  by 
signs,  and  interpreted  their  replies  as  affirming  that 
Florida  abounded  in  gold.  De  Soto  and  his  troops 
were  roused  to  the  highest  pitch  of  excitement,  and 
all  were  eager  to  beo'in  the  vovage  of  discovery. 

o  o  t,        o  «/ 

The  infection  spread  throughout  Cuba,  and  volun 
teers  came  by  the  score  from  all  parts  of  the  island 
334 


AN  INDIAN   GIRL'S   LOVE.  335 

to  engage  in  the  enterprise.  One  Vasco  Porcullo, 
an  aged  and  wealthy  man,  lavished  Ins  fortune  in 
magnificent  outlay  for  the  expedition. 

Estevan  still  lay  at  the  island,  awaiting  the  ar 
rival  of  the  fleet,  when  De  Soto,  on  the  14th  day 
of  May,  1539,  sailed  from  Havana  with  nine  ships, 
large  and  small,  a  thousand  followers  and  many 
horses,  cattle,  mules,  and  a  herd  of  swine,  leaving 
public  affairs  at  home  m  charge  of  his  young  wife. 
The  parting  was  very  affecting;  for  she  seemed  to 
realize  that  they  were  never  to  meet  again;  hut 
I)c  Soto,  whose  lofty  mind  w7as  filled  with  ambition 
to  become  a  Cortez  or  Pizarro,  saw  nothing  but 
imperial  cities  and  golden  conquests  in  the  future. 
Cortez  had  conquered  Mexico;  Pizarro,  Peru;  and 
he  would  seize  the  rich  cities  and  wonderful  mines 
in  Florida. 

Estevan  had  grown  weary  awaiting  the  arrival  of 
the  fleet  when  it  hove  in  sight.  He  fired  a  gun 
and  his  crew  shouted  themselves  hoarse.  The  en 
tire  fleet  now  sailed  to  Florida,  and  came  to  anchor 
in  Tampa  Bay,  where  the  air  was  burdened  writh 
the  most  delicious  perfumes,  which  came  from  the 
shores;  for  all  Florida  was  in  bloom.  Such  mag 
nificent  foliage,  such  rare  exotics  growing  wild, 
such  everglades  and  such  wonders  and  delights  of 
the  floral  world,  had  never  before  greeted  the  eyes 
of  the  Spaniards. 


336  ESTEVAN. 

Next  morning  the  disembarkation  commenced. 
Estevan  was  first  to  go  ashore.  He  had  not  met 
De  Soto  yet;  but  soon  after  he  landed  he  saw  the 
governor  coming  ashore  with  a  boat's  crew  and-* 
dozen  soldiers,  while  three  more  boats,  loaded  down 
with  armed  cavaliers,  were  landing.  Estevan  went 
to  a  hillock  where  grew  a  tall  palmetto-tree,  and 
beneath  its  branches  awaited  the  arrival  of  De  Soto. 

Having  landed,  the  governor  advanced  to  greet 
Estevan  and  gain  the  full  particulars  of  all  the  in 
formation  the  officer  had  obtained.  It  was  little 
the  young  cavalier  had  to  impart. 

"  I  found  but  few  natives,  governor,    and  those; 
I  did  see  fled  before  us.      There  is  something  de 
cidedly    menacing    in    their  manner,   and    I    fear 
they  will  make  trouble  for  us." 

"How  can  they,  Estevan?" 

"These  deep,  almost  impenetrable  everglades 
will  afford  many  excellent  hiding-places  for  them. 
There  they  can  lie  in  wait  and  pick  off  our  soldiers 
with  their  arrows;  for  they  are  expert  archers." 

"  I  will  make  it  so  terrible  for  them  with  our 
blood-hounds,  that  they  will  not  dare  to  attack  us." 

"I  pray  you  to  forbear  any  act  of  cruelty,"  said 
Estevan,  whose  early  training  under  the  pious  old 
Las  Casas  had  a  wonderful  effect  on  his  morals. 
"It  is  not  only  inhuman,  but  unwise,  to  attack  the 
natives." 


AN  INDIAN  GIRL'S   LOVE.  337 

"One  of  the  chief  objects  of  this  colonization 
scheme  is  to  procure  slaves,  for  the  supply  at  Cuba 
and  San  Domingo  is  almost  exhausted,"  replied  De 
Soto.  Estevan  was  about  to  enter  a  further  re 
monstrance  when  De  Soto  suddenly  led  his  mind  to 
a  more  absorbing  topic.  "I  have  a  surprise  in 
store  for  you,  Seiior  Estevan,"  he  said. 

"A  surprise?     What  can  it  be?" 

"  As  I  was  mustering  my  forces  at  Havana  to 
embark,  a  new  recruit  presented  himself,  an  old 
friend  of  yours.  Can  you  not  guess  his  name?" 

"I  cannot." 

"The  Indian  boy,  Nicosia." 

"Mother  of  Jesus!"  and  Estevan  staggered  as  if 
he  had  been  dealt  a  blow.  De  Soto  was  amazed 
at  his  strange  emotion;  but  not  understanding  the 
cause,  he  concluded  that  it  must  be  the  result  of  sur 
prise.  After  a  few  moments,  during  which  he  re 
gained  his  composure,  Estevan  asked  where  Nicosia 
was,  and  if  he  could  be  assigned  to  his  command. 

"Certainly,"  De  Soto  answered.  "I  expected 
you  would  make  this  request,  and  had  already  de 
cided  on  the  arrangement.  You  were  inseparable 
in  Peru,  and  I  supposed  you  would  be  the  same  in 
Florida.  Where  has  the  Indian  boy  been  since  his 
return  from  Peru?" 

"In  Cuba,  I  believe." 

"He  has  not  been  with  you?" 
22 


338  ESTEVAN. 

Estevan  shook  his  head  in  the  negative. 
"  There  is  some  deep  mystery  about  this  young 
fellow  which  I  cannot  solve." 

"No   more    can    I,    governor.        Let   me    have 

•>. 

Nicosia  with  me  as  soon  as  possible." 

Estevan  had  grown  suddenly  pale,  and  his  form, 
never  known  to  quake  in  battle,  was  now  trembling 
like  an  aspen-leaf.  Walking  apart  to  himself,  he 
thought  over  the  strange  matter. 

"There  is  something  strange  and  incomprehen 
sible  in  this  Indian  blood.  A  race  the  origin  of 
which  is  unknown,  with  thought,  manner  and  pas 
sions  all  new  to  us,  is  bound  to  be  a  mystery." 

Nicosia  joined  him.  The  same  sweet,  humble, 
loving  face  which  had  been  his  guardian  angel  in 
Peru  had  come  to  follow  him  through  the  wilds  of 
Florida.  Once  more  he  felt  the  magic  spell  of 
those  dark,  watchful  eyes,  and  her  sympathetic 
care.  The  troops  were  landing  their  horses,  cattle, 
mules,  hogs  and  effects,  and  Estevan  had  a  few 
moments'  leisure. 

"Come  with  me,"  he  said. 

Nicosia,  with  downcast  eyes,  and  olive  cheek 
much  paler  than  usual,  followed  him  down  the 
path,  through  tropical  forests,  into  the  dense  ever 
glades,  where  he  paused  and  turned  suddenly  on 
Nicosia. 

"Christoval!" 


AN  INDIAN  GIRL'S    LOVE.  339 

"No!  not  Christoval.  Remember  that  I  am 
Nicosia,"  she  answered.  "Nicosia,  the  Indian 
boy." 

"While  in  that  garb  you  are  to  be  known  to  all 
others  as  Nicosia;  but  to  me  you  are  Christoval." 

A  glad,  happy  light  dawned  on  her  face,  and 
she  gave  utterance  to  an  almost  suppressed  cry  of 

joy- 

"  You  must  to  others  be  Nicosia,  the  Indian  boy, 
but  I  will  not  forget  that  you  are  my  dearly  be 
loved  sister.  Why  did  you  come,  Christoval?" 

Turning  those  great,  soft  eyes,  all  beaming  with 
impassioned,  overmastering  love,  to  him,  she  an 
swered  : 

"  I  learned  you  had  joined  De  Soto  and  knew 
you  would  be  in  danger,  so  I  followed  to  be  ever 
near.  Were  you  hard  pressed,  my  hand  could  de 
fend  you,  and  if  you  were  wounded  or  sick,  I 
might  be  at  hand  to  nurse  you  back  to  life  and 
health." 

For  a  moment  Estevan  stood  gazing  at  her,  an 
expression  of  pain  and  wonder  on  his  face. 

"  Did  my  mother  tell  you  she  had  received  a  let 
ter  from  me?"  he  asked,  after  a  pause. 

"She  did  not." 

"Know  you  nothing  of  what  that  letter  con 
tained?" 

"Nothing,"  answered    the    disguised    girl,   her 


340  ESTEVAN. 

beautiful  eyes  wide  opened  in  wonder.  "Perhaps 
she  received  your  letter  after  I  disappeared  to  join 
Do  Soto  at  Havana.  Did  you  write  of  me?" 

"Yes,"  he  answered,  with  a  bitter  sigh.  ---"I 
could  not  forget  my  poor  sister,  who  had  dared  so 
much  to  follow  me  through  the  wilds  of  Peru." 
He  did  not  tell  her  all  that  letter  contained;  of 
his  secret  marriage  to  Inez,  for  some  reason,  he  had 
not  the  power  to  tell  her.  "AVhat  am  I  to  do  with 
you  now?" 

"Nothing,"  she  quickly  answered.      "Allow  me 
to  accompany  you,  and  the  army  will  not  know 
but  that  I  am  an  Indian  boy.      But  for  Nicosia,  f 
your  body  would  have  found  interment  in  Pern." 

"I  owe  my  life  to  yon,  Christoval,  and  would 
be  happy  to  grant  any  request  you  would  make; 
but  I  cannot  consent  to  your  going  on  this  danger 
ous  crusade.  De  Soto  will  soon  send  the  ships 
back  to  Cuba,  and  you  must  go  with  them." 

She  shook  her  head;  but  he  was  firm  in  his  com 
mand,  and,  fearing  that  he  might  force  her  to  re 
turn,  she  stole  away  the  night  before  the  ships 
sailed  on  their  return  to  Cuba,  and  could  not  be 
found,  having  secreted  herself  m  one  of  the  deepest 
everglades.  Estevan,  though  the  only  one  who 
surmised  the  correct  cause  of  her  disappearance,  was 
much  alarmed,  fearing  she  had  been  captured  by 
some  band  of  Indians.  He  asked  De  Soto's  per- 


AN  INDIAN   GIRL'S   LOVE.  341 

mission  to  take  a  small  party  and  go  in  search  of 
the  supposed  Indian  boy.  His  request  was  granted, 
and  with  a  score  of  horsemen  he  set  out  on  the 
search,  which  was  as  dangerous  as  it  was  futile. 
About  a  league  from  the  camp  of  the  Europeans, 
a  large  party  of  Indians  was  discovered.  At  sight 
of  the  steel-clad  warriors  mounted  on  those  strange 
awe-inspiring  beasts,  they  let  fly  a  shower  of  arrows 
at  them,  one  of  which  struck  the  breast-plate  of 
Estevan. 

"Lower  visors — charge!"  cried  Estevan.  With 
visors  down  and  lances  couched,  they  bore  down 
on  the  Indians,  all  of  whom  save  one  fled  in  terror. 
That  single  savage  fell  on  his  knees  imploring  the 
cavaliers  by  gestures  and  piteous  cries  to  spare  him. 
Erevan's  keen  lance  was  almost  at  his  breast, 
when,  suddenly,  to  the  amazement  of  all,  he  cried 
in  the  Castilian  tongue: 

"I  am  a  Christian!  I  am  a  Christian!  Slay 
me  not!" 

"Saints  be  praised!  Can  it  be  true?"  cried 
Estevan,  dropping  his  lance,  leaping  from  his 
saddle  and  seizing  the  hand  of  the  poor  wretch. 
"  AVlio  are  you?"  he  asked. 

"I  am  Jean  Ortiz,  a  native  of  Seville,  and  for 
ten  years  I  have  been  a  slave  or  a  wanderer  in  the 
forest." 

"How  came  you  here?" 


342  ESTEVAN. 

"1  was  one  of  the  unfortunate  Narvaez  expedi 
tion." 

"Have  you  learned  the  Indian  tongue?"  asked 
the  young  trooper. 

"I  have." 

"Then  you  will  be  of  incalculable  value  to  Gov 
ernor  De  Soto,"  and  Estevan  lifted  him  on  his  own 
horse,  and,  together,  they  returned  to  the  camp. 

'  While  De  Soto  was  interviewing  the  rescued  cap 
tive,  whose  wild  adventures  would  make  a  larger 
volume  than  this,  Estevan  went  among  the  troopers 
enquiring  after  the  missing  Nicosia.  To  his  joy, 
he  found  him  in  the  camp.  Now  that  the  ships 
were  gone  and  Christoval  had  no  fear  of  being  sent 
back  to  Cuba,  she  returned  to  become  the  guardian 
angel  of  him  whom  she  so  passionately,  yet  secret 
ly,  loved. 

De  Soto  was  ready  to  enter  upon  the  conquest  of 
Florida  in  earnest.  His  troops  were  clad  in  coats 
of  mail  to  repel  the  arrows  of  the  native  archers, 
and  they  had,  in  addition,  strong  shields,  swords, 
lances,  arquebuses  with  match-locks,  crossbows, 
and  one  falconet  or  small  cannon.  The  cavaliers 
were  mounted  on  one  hundred  and  thirteen  horses. 
Savage  bloodhounds  from  Cuba  were  the  allies  of 
the  Spaniards,  and  the  Castilians  were  plentifully 
supplied  with  iron  neck-collars,  handcuffs,  and 
chains  for  their  captives.  With  these  instruments 


AN  INDIAN   GIRL'S   LOVE.  343 

of  cruelty,  a  drove  of  swine,  many  cattle  and  mules, 
and  accompanied  by  mechanics,  priests,  inferior 
clergy  and  monks,  with  sacerdotal  robes,  holy  relics, 
images  of  the  Virgin,  and  sacramental  bread  and 
wine  wherewith  to  make  Christians  of  the  con 
quered  Pagans,  De  Soto  began  his  inarch,  in  June, 
1530. 

Estevan  was  given  command  of  the  advance- 
guard,  and  Nicosia,  at  his  own  urgent  request,  was 
permitted  to  ride  at  his  side. 

"  We  both  would  be  much  safer  if  you  were  in 
the  rear,"  said  Estevan,  as  the  army  pushed  its 
way  into  the  vast,  unknown  wilderness.  "My 
anxiety  for  you  will  make  me  less  careful  for  my 
self."" 

"No,  no,  no!"  answered  Nicosia  with  a  vigorous 
shake  of  the  head.  "I  cannot  consent  to  go  back 
to  the  rear.  The  anxieties  and  torments  would 
drive  me  mad.  At  each  halt  I  would  think  you 
unhorsed,  or  that  some  harm  had  befallen  you. 
At  each  clash  of  arms  borne  by  the  wind  to  my  ears 
I  would  believe  you  slain.  No,  no,  if  you  would 
not  drive  me  mad,  allow  me  to  ride  by  your 
side." 

He  interposed  no  further  objections,  and,  side  by 
side,  they  rode  in  the  van.  With  so  large  an  army 
and  so  many  animals,  their  movements  through  a 
wilderness  like  Florida  were  necessarily  very  slow. 


344  ESTEVAN. 

On  the  third  day  of  their  march,  a  few  Indians 
were  seen  flitting  about  in  the  forest,  which  aroused 
the  suspicion  of  Estevan.  They  pressed  on,  how 
ever,  until  they  began  to  enter  a  narrow  defile,  -\\dien 
the  Indians  were  seen  in  considerable  numbers* 
among  the  trees  and  rocks. 

Estevan  halted  his  small  command,  but  before 
the  advance  could  form,  a  shower  of  arrows  was 
poured  upon  them.  So  sudden  was  the  attack, 
that  one  poor  fellow  was  wounded  in  the  face  before 
he  could  lower  his  visor,  or  cover  himself  with  his 
buckler. 

An  arrow  would  doubtless  have  wounded  Este 
van,  had  not  Nicosia  interposed  his  own  buckler  ' 
and  saved  him.  So  sudden  and  unexpected  was 
the  attack,  that  for  a  moment  the  Spanish  advance- 
guard  \vas  thrown  into  confusion,  and,  unable  im 
mediately  to  recover,  fell  back  before  the  yelling 
foe.  Discharging  arrows  and  brandishing  war- 
clubs,  they  pressed  on  the  strange,  steel-clad  in 
vaders.  The  confusion  of  the  Spaniards  was  but 
momentary.  Their  leader  had  been  trained  on  the 
battle-fields  of  Peru  under  such  an  indomitable 
spirit  as  Francisco  Pizarro,  and,  giving  utterance  to 
the  terrible  war-cry  of  the  Spaniards,  he  charged 
down  on  the  Indians,  with  Nicosia  at  his  side  and 
his  followers  close  in  his  rear.  The  plunging, 
snorting,  neighing  war-horses  struck  terror  to  the 


AN  INDIAN  GIRL'S    LOVE.  345 

hearts  of  flic  savages,  \vlio  fled  in  dismay.  The 
natives,  having  been  made  intensely  revengeful  by 
the  cruelties  of  Narvaez,  ten  years  before,  resolved 
to  fight  these  new  invaders  until  not  one  should  re 
main  on  their  soil.  The  law  of  retaliation,  uni 
versal  among  savage  and  civilized  people,  was 
enforced  to  the  uttermost.  A  Spaniard,  when  cap 
tured,  was  mercilessly  tortured  to  death.  The 
captured  Indians  were  loaded  with  chains,  without 
regard  to  age  or  sex,  and  made  to  bear  burdens  so 
large  that  they  frequently  fainted  beneath  them. 
Estevan,  in  the  hope  of  ameliorating  the  condition 
of  the  invaders  and  Indians,  interposed  his  advice 
for  a  more  lenient  policy;  but  Do  Soto  had  be 
come  hardened  to  scenes  of  cruelty  under  such  in 
famous  tutorage  as  Pizarro,  and  at  first  would  not 
heed  the  wise  counsel  of  his  officer. 

"They  are  treacherous,  ungodly  heathen,"  he 
replied.  "They  can  be  conquered  in  no  other  way 
than  by  extermination." 

"But  they  are  retaliating,  governor,  and  are  from 
everywhere  concentrating  against  us.  Follow  the 
wise  course  of  your  predecessors  in  the  conquests  of 
the  New  "World.  Cortez  and  Pizarro,  while  they 
fought  one  tribe  of  natives,  made  another  their 
friends  and  allies,  thus  dividing  the  enemy  against 
themselves." 

Moved  by  this  sound  advice,  the  governor  decided 


346  ESTEVAN. 

to  try  and  form  a  treaty  with  Acuera,  a  powerful 
Muscogee  or  Creek  chief,  whose  territory  he  had 
entered.  Estevan  and  Jean  Ortiz  were  sent  to  invite 
the  cacique  to  a  friendly  interview. 

With  becoming  dignity,  the  grim  old  warrior 
met  the  embassy,  and,  after  listening  to  their  pro 
posal,  indignantly  refused  the  overtures. 

"!STo!  Others  of  your  accursed  race  have,  in  the 
years  past,  disturbed  our  peaceful  shores.  They 
have  taught  me  what  you  are.  What  is  your  em 
ployment?  To  wander  about  like  vagabonds  from 
land  to  land,  to  rob  the  poor,  to  betray  the  confid 
ing,  to  murder  the  defenceless  in  cold  blood.  No! 
With  such  people  I  want  neither  peace  nor  friend-  * 
ship.  War — never-ending,  exterminating  war,  is 
all  I  ask.  You  boast  yourselves  to  be  valiant,  and 
so  you  may  be;  but  my  faithful  warriors  are  not 
less  brave,  and  of  this  you  shall  one  day  have 
proof,  for  I  have  sworn  to  maintain  an  unsparing 
conflict  while  one  white  man  remains  on  my  bor 
ders — not  openly  in  the  battle-field,  though  even 
thus  we  fear  not  to  meet  you,  but  by  stratagem, 
ambush,  and  surprise." 

"You  do  not  comprehend  the  object  of  our  visit, 
Estevan  returned.  "We  are  not  come  to  extermi 
nate  you,  to  enslave  you,  nor  overturn  your  king 
dom,  but  to  ask  you  to  yield  obedience  to  the  king 
of  Spain,  and  become  his  vassal." 


AN  INDIAN   GIRL'S   LOVE.  347 

At  tliis,  the  liauglity  cacique  became  still  more 
indignant. 

"I  am  king  in  my  own  land,"  he  exclaimed, 
"  and  will  not  become  the  vassal  of  a  mortal  like 
myself  and  no  better.  Small  of  soul  and  coward 
by  nature  must  be  one  who  submits  to  the  yoke  of 
another,  when  he  may  be  free.  As  for  me  and  my 
people,  we  prefer  death  to  the  loss  of  our  liberty 
and  the  subjugation  of  our  country." 

"It  is  useless  to  try  to  make  peace  with  him," 
said  Estevan  on  his  return  to  De  Soto.  "  Acuera  is 
prejudiced  against  the  Spaniards,  and  will  listen  to 
nothing  but  war  to  the  hilt." 

Nicosia  took  Estevan  aside  and  pleaded  with  him. 

"Do  not  go  to  the  cacique  again!  He  may 
assassinate  you,  and  then  what  would  become  of 
me,  alone  in  this  dreadful  wilderness?" 

For  twenty  days  De  Soto  remained  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  cacique,  hoping  to  patch  up  some  sort  of  a 
truce.  Again  and  again  he  sent  his  ambassadors  to 
the  cacique  with  propositions  for  a  treaty. 

"Keep  on!  robbers  and  traitors!"  cried  Acuera. 
"In  my  province  and  in  Apalachee  you  will  be 
treated  as  you  deserve.  We  will  quarter  and  hang 
every  captive  on  the  highest  tree." 

The  chief  kept  his  word.  Fourteen  Spaniards 
were  slain  while  in  his  province,  and  some  who 
were  taken  captive  were  horribly  mutilated. 


348  ESTEVAN. 

"I  will  begin  the  war  of  extermination  at  once," 
declared  De  Soto,  one  morning,  on  finding  a  sentry 
dead.  "  It  lias  grown  so  that  we  hardly  dare  post 
a  sentry  anywhere.  The  treacherous,  cunmiig 
savages  creep  upon  the  unwary  soldier  and  slay 
him  when  he  least  expects  a  foe  near." 

"They  can  beat  us  at  extermination,"  Estevan 
answered. 

"Why  so?     Have  they  better  arms?" 

"  No ;  we  are  superior  to  them  in  arms,  discipline, 
and  courage,  but  they  have  the  advantage  in  num 
bers.  While  we  cannot  afford  to  spare  half  a  score, 
they  can  lose  half  a  million." 

"  We  cannot  make  a  treaty ;  then  we  must  fight, " 
said  De  Soto. 

Cutting  their  way  through  hostile  tribes,  the 
Spaniards  reached  the  fertile  region  of  Tallahasse, 
where  they  encamped  for  the  winter.  Estevan 
erected  a  small  log  hut  for  Christoval.  Her  sex 
was,  of  course,  kept  a  secret  from  all.  While  he 
loved  and  respected  her  as  a  very  dear  sister,  her 
gentle  bosorn  was  stirred  by  a  stronger  and  deeper 
emotion. 

"  Sister,  if  you  would  let  me  send  you  away  out 
of  this  danger,  I  could  pursue  the  journey  through 
the  trackless  wilderness  with  actual  pleasure." 

"I  would  be  miserable  anywhere  else,"  she 
answered. 


AN  INDIAN   GIRL'S   LOVE.  349 

There  was  such,  a  look  of  meek  appeal  in  those 
tender  eyes,  such  an  expression  of  consuming  love, 
that  the  awful  truth  began  at  last  to  dawn  upon  the 
foster  brother,  and,  turning  aside,  he  groaned  in 
pain. 

"Saint  Anthony  preserve  me!  am  I  responsible 
for  this?" 

An  expedition  sailing  westward  in  De  Soto's 
ships  to  explore  the  coasts,  returned  in  February  to 
report  that  the  skeletons  of  the  men  and  horses  of 
the  Narvaez  party  had  been  discovered.  The  com 
mander  was  ordered  to  return  to  Cuba  and  bring 
supplies  to  Pensacola,  whilst  Do  Soto  should  march 
across  the  country  to  the  same  point.  De  Soto  was 
about  to  break  up  winter  camp  and  go  in  that 
direction,  wrhen  a  rumor  of  gold  in  the  north 
reached  him.  He  also  heard  of  a  beautiful  Indian 
maiden  who  ruled  over  a  large  country,  and  he  de 
cided  to  await  her  visit  before  leaving  his  present 
location. 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

THE    FATHER    OF    WATERS. 

DE  SOTO  had  suffered  so  sorely  from  the  con 
tinued  attacks  of  the  Indians,  that  he  was  anxious 
to  make  any  sort  of  a  treaty  which  promised  to 
secure  him  an  ally.  The  friendly  visit  of  the 
queen's  embassadors  filled  him  with  hope,  and  on 
the  morning  she  was  expected,  he  had  his  troops 
drawn  up  in  military  order  to  receive  her. 

"She  comes!   she  comes!" 

A  whisper  ran  through  the  camp,  and  all  eyes 
were  turned  eagerly  toward  the  river  from  whence 
the  dusky  friend,  who  was  expected  to  share  their 
toils  and  dangers,  was  to  come. 

In  a  richly  wrought  canoe,  filled  with  shawls 
and  skins  and  other  presents  for  the  wonderful  men 
who  had  come  to  their  shores,  the  dusky  cacia 
glided  across  the  river. 

Leaping  ashore  with  a  nimble  grace,  she  ad 
vanced  toward  the  governor,  who  came  to  meet  her. 
She  was  no  doubt  amazed  at  the  great  man,  clothed 

350 


THE   FATHER    OF  WATERS. 


351 


in  shining  steel  producing  a  hollow  clanking  sound 
at  every  tread. 

"I  come  to  welcome  the  great  pale  men  from 
the  far-off  country,"  she  said.  To  this,  De  Soto, 
through  his  interpreter,  answered: 

"I  come  from  my  monarch,  who  is  a  great  king 
living  across  the  ocean,  to  offer  you  my  services, 
and  to  assure  you,  if  you  will 
but  become  his  vassal,  he  will 
protect  and  defend  you  against 
all  your  enemies." 

After  this  formal  greeting, 
presents  were  exchanged. 
Those  she  had  brought  in  her 
canoe  were  fetched  and  laid  at 
the  feet  of  the  conqueror. 

She  wore  about  her  neck  a  magnificent  string  of 
pearls.  Drawing  this  off  over  her  head,  she  tim 
idly  advanced  toward  the  great  governor  and  hung 
it  about  his  neck,  saying,  as  she  did  so,  "Wear 
this,  great  warrior,  in  token  of  your  regard  for 
me." 

That  he  promised  to  do,  and  then  she  invited  him 
and  his  followers  to  cross  the  river  to  her  village. 
Estevan  was  in  another  part  of  the  camp  when  news 
reached  him  that  the  army  was  going  to  cross  the 
river  and  accept  the  bounteous  hospitality  of  the 
Indian  queen.  Every  canoe  and  raft  was  already 


'SHE  COMES!' 


3*2  ESTEVAN. 

secured,  and  lie  found  that  lie  and  Nicosia  would 
have  to  remain  on  this  side  unless  their  ingenuity 
could  devise  some  means  of  crossing. 

"Can  you  swim?"  he  asked  her. 

"I  cannot,"  she  answered.  "^ 

"Are  you  afraid  to  trust  yourself  with  rne?" 

"I  am  not." 

"Then  we  will  seize  a  floating  log.      You  get  on 
the  log  with  our  arms  and  armor,  and  I  will  swim 
and  push   it  along  before  me  to  the  other  side." 
He  procured  the  log  and  Christoval  Balboa  took  her 
place  upon  it  with  weapons  and  armor,  and  he  be 
gan  propelling  it  across  the  stream.      Their  horses- 
swam  over,  led  by   the  bridles  by  cavaliers  who* 
were  fortunate  enough  to  secure  canoes. 

Having  crossed  the  stream,  the  Spaniards  en 
camped  in  a  beautiful  valley  in  the  shadows  of  some 
mulberry  trees,  where  they  received  a  bountiful 
supply  of  turkeys,  venison  and  maize.  The  Indian 
queen  became  very  much  attached  to  the  Spaniards; 
but  De  Soto,  disappointed  and  angry  at  finding  no 
great  cities  or  gold,  ill  repaid  her  kindness.  Este- 
van  grew  disgusted  with  his  commander,  and  could 
not  but  contrast  his  conduct  as  a  governor-general 
with  his  gentle  manner  as  a  subaltern. 

"Men  who  make  agreeable  soldiers  may  become 
tyrants  as  rulers." 

Early  in  May,  the  Spaniards  determined  to  leave 


THE   FATHER    OF   WATERS-  853 

the  new  territories,  and  De  Soto  seized  the  gentle 
queen. 

"Why  have  you  done  this  wicked  act?"  Estevan 
asked. 

"I  am  in  command,"  was  his  answer. 

"Your  conduct  will  make  her  our  enemy." 

'"The  Indians  are  already  our  enemies,  and  their 
queen  I  shall  retain  as  a  hostage  for  the  good  be 
havior  of  her  people  toward  the  Spaniards." 

Day  by  day  Nicosia  watched  the  beautiful  queen 
and  noted  how  sad  she  looked.  Too  proud  to  weep 
over  her  afflictions,  she  traveled  in  silence,  keeping 
her  eyes  on  her  captors  in  a  savage,  defiant  man 
ner.  Nicosia,  who  had  learned  something  of  the 
Indian  tongue,  went  to  the  unfortunate  captive  one 
evening  after  the  army  had  halted. 

"Beautiful  queen,  are  you  so  unhappy  that  you 
fade  like  a  flower  plucked  from  its  stem? 

"Who  could  be  happy  when  a  captive,  borne  far 
away  from  people  and  friends?" 

"I  will  give  you  your  liberty  if  you  will  be  very 
cautious." 

"I  know  the  meaning  of  the  word.  Who  are 
you?  You  are  not  a  white  lad,  and  yet  you  are  too 
fair  to  be  an  Indian." 

"My  mother  was  an  Indian,  iny  father  a 
Spaniard." 

That  evening  while  all  the  camp,  save  the  sen- 
23 


354  ESTEVAN. 

tries,  were  buried  in  slumber,  Nicosia  released  the 
queen  and,  carefully  conducting  her  beyond  the 
lines  of  her  enemies,  bade  her  go  to  her  home, 
which  she  did,  and  was  ever  after  a  bitter  enemy 
of  the  white  people. 

The  direction  of  the  march  was  to  the  north;  to 
the  country  of  the  Cherokees,  where  gold  is  now 
found,  but  which  was  then  unknown  in  that  region. 
It  is  seldom  that  the  heart  of  man  is  thoroughly 
attuned  to  the  circumstances  of  the  scenery  around 
him.  How  often  do  we  need  to  struggle  with  our 
selves  to  enjoy  the  rich  and  beautiful  landscape 
that  lies  smiling  in  all  its  freshness  before  us! 
How  frequently  does  the  blue  sky  and  calm  air  look 
down  upon  a  soul  darkened  and  shadowed  with 
affliction!  And,  on  the  other  hand,  how  often  have 
we  felt  the  discrepancy  between  the  lowering  look 
of  winter  and  the  glad  sunshine  of  our  hearts! 
The  outward  world  in  harmony  with  our  inward 
thoughts  is  the  purest  as  well  as  one  of  the  greatest 
sources  of  human  happiness.  Estevan  had  seen 
the  grandeur  of  the  Andes,  the  floral  wonders  of 
Florida,  and  was  now  to  behold  the  Alleghanies  in 
all  their  grandeur;  yet  he  was  out  of  tune  with 
nature,  and  not  calculated  to  enjoy  the  feast  of 
beauty  spread  before  him.  His  thoughts  and 
anxieties  were  divided  with  the  wife  at  home, 
whom  he  had  so  suddenly  left,  and  the  sister  who 


THE   FATHER    OF   WATERS.  355 

had  more  than  a  sister's  affection  and   anxiety  for 
him. 

Though  reason  acquitted  him  of  any  wrong  to 
Christoval  Balboa,  yet  he  felt  within  his  breast  an 
accusing  spirit  rise.  "I  might  have  foreseen  it  all. 
I  might  have  been  more  discreet,  and  yet  I  never 
regarded  her  as  other  than  a  sister."  Never  did  a 
brother  more  tenderly  and  conscientiously  watch 
over  and  care  for  a  sister  than  did  he.  She  occu 
pied  almost  as  much  of  his  thoughts  as  the  beauti 
ful  wife  from  whom  he  was  wandering,  day  by 
day,  further  and  further  into  an  unknown  wilder 
ness. 

De  Soto  did  not  cross  the  mountains  so  as  to  en 
tor  the  basin  of  the  Tennessee,  but  passed  from  the 
head  waters  of  the  Chattahoochee  to  the  head  of  the 
Coosa  River.  Then,  for  long  months,  the  Spaniards 
wandered  about  in  the  valleys  which  send  their 
waters  to  the  Bay  of  Mobile.  ]STo  gold  had  been 
discovered  in  any  great  quantities;  but  the  Indian 
guides  continued  to  point  in  various  directions 
where  it  might  be.  Being  agravated  by  continual 
disappointments,  De  Soto  at  last  turned  the  guides 
over  to  be  torn  to  death  by  the  dogs. 

Estevan  was  sent  with  an  exploring  party  to  the 
north ;  but  they  halted,  appalled  by  the  aspect  of 
the  Apalachian  chain,  and  many  who  were  along 
declared  the  mountain  impassable. 


856  ESTEVAN. 

"What  can  lie  beyond?"  Estevan  asked,  as  he 
gazed  on  the  mighty  range. 

"Don't  try  to  discover  it,"  whispered,  Nicosia, 
who  had  a  mysterious,  superstitious  dread  of  ~Eho^p 
great  walls  of  stone  reared  like  barriers  to  heaven. 

"Why?" 

"It  seems  as  if  hell  would  be  only  across  those 
rocks." 

The  party  sent  to  discover  mines  and  gold  came 
back  with  a  buffalo-robe  as  their  only  trophy. 

In  the  latter  part  of  July,  the  Spaniards  reached 
Coosa.  In  the  course  of  the  season,  they  had  occa 
sion  to  praise  the  wild  grape  of  the  country,  which 
grew  in  the  fertile  plains  of  Alabama,  and  hassince 
been  thought  worthy  of  cultivation.  A  southerly 
direction  led  the  train  to  Tuscaloosa,  and  in  October 
the  wanderers  reached  a  considerable  town  on  the 
Alabama,  above  the  junction  of  the  Tombigbee,  and 
about  one  hundred  miles,  or  six  days'  journey 
above  Pensacola.  Here,  one  of  the  most  bloody 
Indian  battles  that  was  ever  fought  on  the  soil  of 
the  present  United  States  occurred,  and  but  for  a 
timely  charge  of  Estevan's  cavalry,  De  Soto  would 
have  been  slain.  Eighteen  Spaniards  and  twelve 
horses  were  killed,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  men 
and  seventy  steeds  wounded;  while  almost  all  the 
Spaniards'  baggage  was  destroyed  by  fire. 

Ships  from  Cuba  soon  after  arrived  at  Ochus;  and 


THE   FATHER    OF  WATERS.  357 

the  governor  could  liave  returned  in  them;  but, 
although  no  tempting  stores  of  gold  or  silver  had 
been  accumulated,  the  stern  old  Spaniard  deter 
mined  to  \vander  north  in  quest  of  that  hill  of  gold 
of  which  the  natives  had  told  him.  Winter  came 
on  them,  when  the  Chickasaw  territory,  now  Mis 
sissippi,  was  reached,  and  they  went  into  winter 
quarters  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Yazoo  River  in 
the  vsmall  town  of  Chicaca. 

At  the  approach,  of  the  whites,  the  Indians  de 
serted  their  cabins,  leaving  a  wealth  of  maize  stand 
ing  in  the  fields,  and  an  abundance  of  dried  venison 
and  turkeys. 

Through  the  severe  winter  of  1540  and  1541 
Estevan  devoted  his  spare  time  to  looking  after  the 
comfort  of  Nicosia,  so  much  so  that  his  affection 
for  the  Indian  boy  became  a  matter  of  comment 
among  the  soldiers.  Even  the  stern  old  governor, 
who  had  become  moody  and  silent  from  disappoint 
ment,  could  not  but  mark  the  attention  of  the 
young  cavalier.  The  best  apartment  possible  was 
secured  for  the  young  Indian,  and  Estevan  insisted 
on  cutting  his  wood  and  making  his  fires. 

Gloomy,  despondent  and  disappointed,  the 
Spanish  governor  sat  in  his  quarters,  day  after  day, 
during  the  long  winter.  Within  his  soul  he  felt 
creeping  the  shadow  of  failure.  While  Cortez  and 
Pizarro  were  enjoying  the  fruits  of  their  conquests, 


358  ESTEVAN. 

he  had  as  yet  met  nothing  but  hard  blows.  No 
city,  no  rich  country,  no  gold!  The  winter  was 
severe,  and  the  Spaniards  did  well  to  find  such  ex 
cellent  shelter  as  they  had.  When  March  ca.me, 
De  Soto  determined  to  push  on,  and  demanded  6Y 
the  Chickasaw  chief  two  hundred  men  to  carry  the 
burdens  of  his  company.  The  Indians  hesitated. 
Human  nature  is  the  same  the  world  over.  Like 
the  inhabitants  of  Athens  in  the  days  of  Themis- 
tocles,  or  the  Russians  of  Moscow,  the  Indians  de 
termined  to  destroy  their  own  dwellings,  hoping 
by  the  act  to  forever  rid  themselves  of  a  dangerous 
and  powerful  enemy,  who  threatened  their  liberties. 
At  least  they  would  not  permit  the  hated  whites  to« 
occupy  their  homes. 

It  was  midnight,  and  Estevan,  unable  to  sleep, 
sat  by  the  side  of  his  cot.  His  coat  of  mail,  with 
greaves  and  buckler,  hung  from  a  peg  on  the  wall 
near  by.  Suddenly  there  came  on  his  ears  a  strange 
crackling  sound,  while  to  his  nostrils  was  borne  the 
odor  of  burning  wood.  Starting  to  his  feet  he 
donned  his  armor  and  seized  his  sword  as  if  im 
pressed  that  he  was  soon  to  undergo  some  trying- 
ordeal.  At  this  moment  a  yell  as  if  ten  thousand 
devils  had  suddenly  been  turned  loose  made  the 
earth  tremble. 

"The  Indians!  the  Indians!"  he  cried,  beating 
wildly  on  the  door  of  Nicosia's  room.  "Awake, 


THE   FATHER    OF  WATERS.  359 

Nicosia! — Christoval,  awake!  The  Indians  have 
attacked  us!"  he  cried. 

He  heard  her,  bewildered  and  terrified,  running 
about  in  her  room.  The  wild  yells  and  the  roar 
of  flames  were  now  accompanied  by  the  thundering 
strokes  of  Castilian  halberds.  The  battle  raged  hot 
without  and  the  smoke  and  flames  made  it  suffocat 
ing  within.  Estevan  broke  down  the  door,  burst 
into  the  apartment,  and  seized  the  affrighted  girl 
in  his  arms. 

"Christopher,  we  will  die  together,"  she  calmly 
and  sweetly  said,  turning  her  dark  eyes  in  proud 
defiance  upon  the  raging  flames  which  enveloped 
the  house.  No  thought  or  hope  of  escape  was  en 
tertained  by  Christoval,  and  she  welcomed  death  if 
it  would  unite  her  with  him  whom  she  loved  with 
all  her  passionate  soul. 

"Don't  despair,  Christoval;  we  can  escape,"  he 
cried. 

"No,  no,  no!  I  can  die  happy  if  I  die  in  your 
arms,"  she  answered  wildly. 

"Sister,  this  is  folly.  You  must,  you  shall 
live!" 

Then,  in  the  wildest  desperation,  he  kicked  down 
the  front  door,  and,  with  his  left  arm  about  her 
slender  waist,  his  good  Toledo  blade  in  his  right 
hand,  he  literally  hewed  his  way  through  the  masses 
pf  enemy  to  a  slight  eminence  where  the  Spaniards 


360  ESTEVAN. 

were  assembling.  Had  the  Indians  acted  with 
calmness  and  bravery,  they  might  have  gained  a 
decided  victory,  for  the  Spaniards  were  taken  com- 
plete]y  by  surprise;  but  the  wretched  Chickasaws^ 
trembling  at  their  own  success,  dreaded  the  un 
equal  combat  against  weapons  of  steel.  Many  of 
the  horses  had  broken  loose;  these,  terrified,  with 
out  riders,  roamed  through  the  forest,  and  seemed 
to  the  ignorant  natives  the  gathering  of  hostile 
squadrons. 

Estevan,  reaching  the  rallying  Spaniards,  left 
Christoval  in  a  place  of  security  and  caught  and 
mounted  one  of  the  loose  horses. 

"Ho!    Estevan!"  cried  De   Soto.      "Rally   the     ; 
scattered    forces;     sound     our     battle-cry,  and    at 
them!" 

The  Indians,  appalled  at  a  foe  which  seemed  to 
rise  phosnix-like  from  the  flames,  fled  in  dismay. 

Several  horses  and  eleven  Spaniards,  including  a 
soldier's  wife,  with  most  of  the  hogs,  perished  in 
the  flames,  and,  what  was  equally  unfortunate  to 
the  Spaniards,  most  of  their  clothing  was  destroyed, 
and  the  bleak,  chilly  winds  of  March  penetrated 
the  thin  covering  they  wore. 

"Let  us  turn  back,  "said  one  cavalier,  who  stood 
with  chattering  teeth  and  shivering  form,  clothed 
only  with  an  Indian  robe. 

"Never  go  back!"    the   indefatigable  governor 


THE   FATHER    OF  WATERS.  361 

answered.  "  I  will  find  a  land  the  equal  of  Peru  or 
perish  in  the  wilderness." 

From  some  captives,  the  Spaniards  had  heard  of 
a  vast  river  to  the  west,  but  like  all  other  stories, 
they  had  come  to  doubt  the  truth  of  it. 

"They  seem  the  incarnation  of  lies,"  De  Soto 
declared,  "and  one  can  believe  nothing  they  .say." 

'•'Let  us  go  in  the  direction  of  the  river  for  a  few 
days,"  Estevan  suggested. 

"Why  so?  Why  explore  for  rivers?"  demanded 
De  Soto.  "It  is  not  rivers  but  gold  wo  came  to 
seek." 

l)c  Soto  little  dreamed  that  he  was  to  make  a 
discovery  of  far  greater  importance  in  the  future 
than  either  Cortez  or  Pizarro — men  whom  he  died 
envying.  His  discovery  would  last  when  theirs' 
had  in  a  measure  passed  away.  The  glory  of  the 
Montezumas  and  Incas  has  faded  forever,  their  vast 
wealth  in  gold  and  silver  has  disappeared,  and 
Mexico  and  Peru  have  dwindled  to  insignificant 
powers;  while  the  great  discovery  of  De  Soto 
sweeps  majestically  on  to  the  sea5  and  will  to  the 
end  of  time. 

The  remainder  of  the  inclement  season  was  passed 
by  the  Spaniards  in  wretchedness.  Cold,  hunger 
and  grievous  wounds  tortured  them,  and  the  In 
dians  fell  on  them  night  after  night,  like  fierce 
tigers.  Estevan,  in  the  sudden  flight  from  the 


362  ESTEVAN. 

burning  camp,  had  only  been  able  to  snatch  a  few 
articles  of  clothing  for  Christoval,  and  she  had  not 
enough  to  keep  her  from  suffering. 

"Take  my  doublette,"  he  said,  giving  it  to. the 
shivering  girl,  who  trembled  with  cold  at  his  side."*" 

"No,  no!      Keep  it  for  yourself!" 

"My  coat-of-mail  will  keep  me  warm,"  he 
answered.  "  If  it  should  not,  the  exercise  of  fight 
ing  day  and  night  will  not  allow  me  to  freeze." 

"Heaven  grant  that  warmer  days  and  more 
peaceful  scenes  may  dawn  for  us  soon,"  she  mur 
mured. 

It  was  with  difficulty  that  he  persuaded  hex  to 
accept  his  doublette.  March  passed  away,  and  with  < 
it  the  cold,  bleak  winds  and  distressing  rains. 
April  came,  warmer  and  brighter,  to  alleviate  the 
sufferings  of  the  Spaniards,  who  moved  in  a  north 
western  direction,  in  search  of  the  land  of  gold  of 
which  they  had  dreamed  so  long.  The  trees,  lately 
bare,  were  clothed  with  verdant  foliage,  while 
shoots  of  tender  green  from  out  the  sodden  ground 
bore  evidence  that  the  queen  of  the  spring  was 
spreading  her  carpet  over  the  earth  and  breathing 
her  breath  on  the  gale. 

The  march  might  have  been  pleasant,  but  for  the 
constant  harassing  assaults  of  the  Indians.  At  an 
Indian  town  called  Alibona  they  found  a  large 
body  of  natives  drawn  up  to  dispute  their  progress. 


THE   FATHER    OF  WATERS. 


3(53 


A  desperate  battle  was  the  result,  which,  for  a  short 
time,  seemed  doubtful.  The  Spaniards  were  as 
tounded  at  their  own  weakness,  and,  although  De 
Soto  gained  the  victory,  he  was  unfavorably  im 
pressed  with  the  increasing  stubbornness  of  the  In 
dians.  Of  a  captive  taken  in  this  battle  he  asked 
the  oft-repeated  question  for  gold.  The  Indian 
pointed  to  the  northwest. 

" Not  three  days'  journey  from  here,'' he  said, 
"you  will  come  to  a  mighty  river.  By  crossing 
that  river,  the  white 
men,  after  a  great  many 
days'  journey,  will  come 
to  much  gold."  The 
Spanish  governor  was 
now  as  anxious  as  he  had 
formerly  been  indifferent 
to  reach  the  wonderful 
river.  It  was  about  the 
17th  of  May,  154-1,  that 
the  army,  wending  their 
way  out  from  the  hills  just  below  the  Chickasaw 
bluffs,  came  in  full  view  of  the  great  Mississippi, 
the  Father  of  Waters.  After  gazing  on  the  river, 
Estevan  turned  to  De  Soto  and  said: 

"Next  to  Balboa,  you  are  the  greatest  discoverer 
Spain  has  sent  to  the  New  World.  Here  is  a  river 
which  drains  a  mighty  continent," 


DE  SOTO. 


364  ESTEVAN. 

The  Spaniards  were  guided  by  the  natives  to  the 
usual  crossing,  the  lower  Chickasaw  Bluffs.  A 
vast  multitude  of  savages  turned  out  to  gaze  upon 
the  strangers  of  whom  they  had  heard  so" -much. 
At  first  they  showed  some  inclination  to  resist;  but,"*~ 
aware  of  their  own  weakness,  they  brought  loaves 
of  bread  made  of  the  persimmon,  and  dried  fish  for 
the  strangers. 

De  Soto  took  great  precaution  to  guard  against 
surprise.      His    forces   had   been    so    considerably 
reduced,  that  he  no  longer  felt  an  abiding   confi 
dence  in  his  army.      At  night  Estevan  went  to  the 
tent  of  the  governor  and   found   him   gloomy  and    • 
despondent.     He  was  making  a  map  of  the  country,   » 
and  writing  a  journal  of  their  daily  progress. 

"I  am  glad  you  came,  Estevan,''  he  said,  "for  I 
want  to  talk  with  you.'' 

When  his  visitor  had  seated  himself  on  a  buffalo- 
robe,  the  governor  continued:  ''I  feel  very  much 
discouraged  to-night." 

''"Why  should  you  be  discouraged,  governor?" 
Estevan  asked. 

''  Why  should  I  be  discouraged?  Saint  Anthony ! 
friend,  can  you  realize  that  my  expedition  is  going 
to  prove  a  failure?" 

"I  cannot,  as  it  is  already  a  success." 

De  Soto  shook  his  head. 

"No,  it  is  a  failure.      While  Cortez  and  Pizarro 


THE   FATHER    OF  WATERS.  385 

have  discovered  ricli  cities,  I  liave  found  nothing 
but  Indian  hamlets  filled  with  a  cunning,  treach 
erous  foe.  They  gained  priceless  riches,  but  no 
gold  has  come  to  m j  coffers.  Cortez  found  Mexico 
and  her  wealth;  Pizarro  conquered  Peru  and  her 
gold;  but  what  have  I  discovered  to  perpetuate  my 
fame?" 

"A  vaster  country  than  theirs,''  Estevan 
answered.  "A  land  that  will  some  day  be  the 
richest  and  greatest  nation  on  earth,  and  a  river 
capable  of  floating  the  navies  of  the  world." 

The  eyes  of  De  Soto  gleamed  for  a  moment  with 
hope;  but  the  light  slowly  faded  away  as  his  mind 
interposed  objections  to  the  glory  with  which  Este 
van'  s  predictions  would  crown  him;  and,  with  a  sad 
shake  of  the  head,  he  resumed: 

"No,  the  success  of  the  Spaniard  can  only  be 
measured  in  gold." 

"It  is  not  so  with  other  parts  of  the  world,"  Es 
tevan  asserted.  "  It  may  not  be  so  in  the  future, 
when  everything  may  be  valued  according  t)  actual 
benelit  to  man.  The  forests  and  plains  we  have 
traversed  will  some  day  be  fields  of  waving  vegeta 
tion,  and  the  bread  for  the  world  may  grow  in  this 
land.  Then  the  name  of  De  Soto  will  be  per 
petuated  long  after  Pizarro  and  Cortez  are  for 
gotten." 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 

THE    WANDERER    FINDS    REST. 

THE  natives  at  this  point  of  the  Mississippi  were 
quite  friendly,  and  when  they  learned  that  the  white 
men  wished  to  cross  the  great  river,  they  offered 
their  boats  and  personal  services.  The  canoes  of 
the  natives  were  too  small  and  frail  to  transport  the 
horses,  and  the  river  too  broad  to  think  of  swim 
ming  them ;  so  almost  a  month  expired  before  barges 
large  enough  to  hold  three  horsemen  each  were 
constructed  for  crossing  the  river.  At  last  the 
Spaniards  embarked,  and  were  borne  to  the  western 
bank  of  the  Mississippi. 

The  country  southwest  of  the  Missouri  was  then 
occupied  by  the  Dacota  tribes.  De  Sotohad  heard 
the  country  so  much  praised,  that  he  supposed  it 
the  vicinity  of  mineral  wealth,  so  he  resolved  to 
visit  its  towns.  With  longing  eyes  they  pressed  on 
and  on  in  the  delusive  hope  of  catching  a  glimpse 
of  some  Caxamalca,  and  day  by  day  hoped  that  the 
rising  or  setting  sun  might  throw  its  rays  on  the 
glittering  spires  and  towers  of  a  Cuzco  with  temples 
366 


THE    WANDERER    FINDS    REST.  367 

to  despoil  and  altars  to  desecrate;  but,  alas,  they 
were  ever  doomed  to  disappointment.  "  Hope  de 
ferred  maketh  the  heart  sick,"  and  as  day  after  day 
and  week  after  week  went  by  with  only  the  long, 
endless  stretches  of  prairie  and  woodland  in  view, 
De  Soto's  heart  sank  within  him.  He  grew  more 
silent,  and,  in  his  despair,  pressed  on,  as  if  de 
termined  to  make  some  great  discovery,  or  carry  his 
decreasing  band  beyond  human  reach. 

In  ascending  the  Mississippi,  they  were  often 
obliged  to  wade  through  morasses.  At  length  they 
came,  as  it  would  seem,  upon  the  district  of  Little 
Prairie,  and  the  dry  and  elevated  lands  which  ex 
tend  toward  New  Madrid  in  Missouri.  Here  the 
Spaniards  were  worshipped  as  children  of  the  sun, 
and  the  blind  were  brought  in  their  presence  to  be 
healed  by  these  sons  of  light.  "Pray  only  to  God 
for  whatever  you  need,"  De  Soto  told  them. 

The  pecan  nut,  the  rnulberr}-,  and  several  species 
of  wild  plum  furnished  food  for  the  wanderers.  At 
a  place  called  Pocaha,*  somewhere  in  the  State  of 
Missouri  or  Kansas,  the  Spaniards  halted  forty-five 
days.  This  marked  the  extent  of  their  northward 

*  This  place  was  evidently  in  Livingston  County,  Mis 
souri.  In  1889  Mr.  Goben,  near  Spring  Hill  in  Livingston 
County,  Missouri,  found,  in  the  ledge  of  a  cliff,  some 
images  and  plates  with  inscriptions  on  them,  which,  by 
good  authority,  were  supposed  to  have  been  the  property  of 
De  Soto's  missionaries. 


368  ESTEVAN. 

march.  Estevan,  with  a  small  party,  went  a  little 
further  northwest,  to  find  only  endless  stretches  of 
prairie,  but  thinly  populated  and  with  the  bisons 
roaming  over  the  plains.  Then  carne  long,  weary 
months  of  wandering  over  the  plains  in  every  direTi- 
tion  which  the  imagination  of  the  Spaniards  or 
caprice  of  their  leader  would  indicate  that  gold  was 
to  be  found.  Estevan  and  Nicosia  had  but  one 
horse  between  them,  which  carried  their  arms  and 
baggage,  while  they  trudged  along  on  foot,  close 
behind  the  grim  chieftain,  who  walked  at  the  head 
of  his  diminished  army.  Their  numbers  were 
constantly  reduced  by  sickness  and  famine.  Some 
favored  returning;  others  were  for  pressing  on  to 
Mexico  and  joining  Cortez.  They  found  the  na 
tives  a  little  further  advanced  in  civilization  than 
on  the  eastern  side  of  the  river.  They  were  an 
agricultural  people,  with  fixed  places  of  abode, 
subsisting  on  the  products  of  the  field  rather  than 
the  chase. 

The  condition  of  the  Spaniards  was  now  growing 
desperate.  The  sixth  of  March,  1542,  found  De 
Soto  on  the  Washita  River,  in  what  is  now  known 
as  Paul's  Valley,  Chickasaw  Nation,  Indian  Terri 
tory,  north  of  Eed  River.*  By  following  Red 

*  There  is  a  species  of  wild  swine  in  this  part  of  the 
Indian  Territory,  said  to  be  descended  from  the  herd  of 
De  Soto,  some  of  which  escaped  him  at  this  place. 


'THEN  CAME  i,ox<;,  WEAUY  MONTHS  OF  WAXI>EKIN<;  O'ER  THE  PLAIN"?. 


THE  WANDERER   FINDS   REST.  369 

River,  on  the  17th.  of  April  they  came  to  the  Mis 
sissippi  River.  On  asking  if  there  were  settlements 
below,  De  Soto  was  told  that  the  lower  banks  of 
the  Mississippi  were  an  uninhabited  waste.  Un 
willing  to  believe  such  disheartening  news,  he  sent 
Estevan,  with  eight  of  his  horsemen,  to  descend  the 
banks  of  the  Mississippi  and  explore  the  country. 
For  eight  days  Estevan  pressed  on  through  bayous 
and  almost  impassable  cane-brakes,  being  able  to 
advance  only  about  thirty  miles.  The  report  was 
received  by  De  Soto  with  anxiety.  His  horses  and 
men  were  dying  around  him,  and  the  natives  day 
by  day  became  more  bold  in  proportion  to  the 
weakening  of  his  ranks.  At  Natches,  the  gov 
ernor  tried  to  overcome  the  chief  by  claiming  a 
supernatural  birth  and  demanding  obedience  and 
tribute. 

"You  say  you  are  a  child  of  the  sun,"  the  un 
daunted  chief  replied.  "Dry  up  this  river  and  I 
will  believe  you.  Do  you  desire  to  see  me?  Yisit 
the  town  where  I  dwell.  If  you  come  in  peace,  I 
will  receive  you  in  good  faith ;  if  in  war,  I  will  not 
shrink  from  you." 

"Alas,  I  am  no  longer  able  to  punish  the  temerity 
of  these  savages,"  De  Soto  groaned,  on  receiving 
this  insulting  reply.  The  governor's  stubborn  pride 
was  changed  by  long  disappointments  into  a  wast 
ing  melancholy,  and  only  a  few  evenings  later  Es- 
24 


370  ESTEVAN. 

tevan  found  him  in  his  quarters  burning  with  a 
malignant  fever. 

"Governor,  you  are  ill!  What  do  you  wish?" 
he  asked. 

"To  return  to  New  Spain,  to  see  my  wife  again; 
but  that  can  never  be." 

"Cheer  up,  governor;  you  must  not  despair." 

"Estevan,  my  friend,  I  thank  you  for  the  en 
couragement  you  try  to  give ;  but  it  is  of  no  use. 
We  have  fought  our  last  battle,  conquered  our  last 
nation,  and  made  our  last  discovery  together.  I 
want  all  who  can  to  return  to  Cuba  and  report  this 
country  as  boundless.  As  for  me,  I  shall  not  live  t 
to  advance  a  single  league.  Bring  my  officers  to 
me  for  a  last  council." 

They  came,  and  he  named  Moscoso  as  his  suc 
cessor.  All  night  long  Estevan  and  Nicosia 
watched  by  his  bedside.  He  became  delirious, 
raving  of  cities  of  gold,  mountains  of  pearls,  and 
rivers  of  blood.  When  he  called  the  name  of  his 
young  and  beautiful  wife,  in  his  more  lucid  inter 
vals,  his  watchers  were  melted  to  tears.  Shortly 
after  sunrise  he  sank  into  a  comatose  state  from 
which  he  never  rallied,  dying  at  noon  on  the  21st 
day  of  May,  1542.  His  death  was  kept  a  secret 
from  the  Indians,  and  for  a  long  time  it  was  a 
serious  question  how  they  were  to  dispose  of  the 
body.  Moscoso  ordered  him  to  be  buried  secretly 


THE   WANDERER   FINDS   REST.  371 

at  the  gateway  in  the  camp,  and  gave  it  out  that 
he  had  gone  up  to  Heaven,  but  would  soon  return. 
The  suspicions  of  the  Indians,  who  had  seen  him 
sick,  were  aroused,  and  Moscoso  ordered  him  to  be 
disinterred  at  midnight.  He  was  taken  in  a  boat, 
wrapped  in  his  finest  robe,  and  sunk  in  the  great 
river  which  he  had  discovered. 

The  enterprise  was  now  in  its  fourth  year,  and 
nothing  but  disaster  had  followed  it  from  the  be 
ginning.  It  was  decided  to  seek  Mexico  by  land, 
rather  than  reach  Cuba  by  such  wretched  vessels  as 
they  could  procure;  but  after  another  half  a  year 
spent  in  wandering  through  wilderness  and  prairie, 
they  returned  once  more  to  the  Mississippi,  reach 
ing  it  a  few  leagues  below  the  mouth  of  Red  River, 
where  they  erected  forges,  and,  with  every  bit  of 
available  iron,  proceeded  to  make  brigantines. 
Horses  and  hogs  were  killed,  and  the  flesh  dried 
for  food,  and  in  July,  1543,  they  were  ready  to 
begin  the  voyage  home. 

Going  home!  What  a  world  of  joy  the  thought 
brought  to  Estevan !  In  the  last  terrible  three  and 
a  half  years  he  had  expended  his  ambition  to  be 
come  a  great  explorer.  Away  from  home  and 
wife,  from  mother  and  scenes  of  peace,  with  Chris- 
toval  a  constant  care  upon  him,  no  wonder  he 
longed  to  go  home! 

Christoval  had  borne  up  well  under  the  hardships 


372  ESTEVAN. 

of  the  long  and  fatiguing  march.  During  the 
tedious  voyage  of  over  five  hundred  miles  down 
the  Mississippi  she  maintained  the  same  wonderful 
fortitude.  She  was  gay  and  sad  at  inter vals^-4.s 
hope  and  despair  caused  her  spirits  to  rise  and  fall. 
Estevan  would  watch  her  for  hours,  studying  the 
varied  emotions  stirring  the  gentle  soul  of  the  In 
dian  girl,  asking  himself  how  this  was  to  end.  He 
dreaded  the  awful  fate  to  which  they  seemed  help 
lessly  drifting.  Often  she  detected  his  gaze  and 
read  its  meaning  by  his  sighs  and  silence.  At  such 
times  she  would  press  her  hands  across  her  breast 
as  if  to  keep  back  the  bitter,  jealous  thoughts,  and  ' 
turn  away,  afraid  to  trust  herself  longer. 

The  Gulf  of  Mexico  was  reached,  and  the  brigan- 
tines  carefully  hugged  the  shore,  dreading  to  launch 
out  on  the  voyage  to  Cuba.  One  evening,  as  Este 
van,  wearied  with  the  toils  and  anxieties  of  the  day,' 
reclined  upon  some  skins  in  the  forecastle,  gazing 
at  the  stars  and  moon  just  rising  o'er  the  deep,  he 
heard  a  light  footfall,  and  Christoval,  with  whom 
he  had  not  been  able  to  speak  for  three  clays,  stood 
at  his  side.  Turning  his  eyes  upon  the  sad,  sweet 
face,  he  bade  her  be  seated,  at  the  same  time 
making  room  for  her  at  his  side.  All  the  while  he 
felt  a  strange  premonition  that  something  he  had  all 
along  dreaded  would  result  from  this  interview.  For 
a  moment  the  girl's  face  beamed  with  hope  and  joy. 


THE   WANDERER    FINDS   REST.  373 

"Sister,"  lie  whispered,  "we  will  soon  be  home 
again,  and  the  joy  at  my  own  safe  return  will  be 
insignificant  compared  to  the  knowledge  that  I  shall 
be  able  to  restore  you  to  our  mother." 

"To  your  mother,  not  mine,"  she  quickly  inter 
rupted,  with  a  sigh  of  pain.  "0  Christopher, 
Christopher!"  she  gasped  in  uncontrollable  agony, 
"I  must  speak,  or  my  heart  will  break.  Why 
keep  up  this  miserable  farce  longer?  I  am  not 
your  sister,  and  the  same  blood  flows  not  in  our 
veins;  but  I  love  you,"  she  whispered  hysterically. 

The  avowal  almost  took  away  her  breath,  and 
Estevan  trembled.  She  regained  her  speech,  and 
with  her  southern  blood  on  fire  resumed: 

"For  three  days  I  have  been  banished  from  your 
presence.  I  know  not  during  that  period  if  the 
sun  has  shone,  or  the  sky  smiled.  My  sky  and 
sun  were  hidden  from  me,  for  I  live  only  in  the 
light  of  your  eyes.  Am  I  too  bold?  Do  I  breathe 
that  secret  which  the  modesty  of  my  sex  should 
keep  locked  in  my  heart?  Alas,  I  must,  for  in 
you  alone  can  I  find  sympathy  and  hope.  We  have 
traversed  mountain  wilds  and  forest  glades  together. 
Side  by  side,  we  never  faltered  or  failed  each  other 
in  the  thickest  of  the  battle.  It  is  no  ordinary 
affair,  but  one  of  happiness  or  misery  which 
prompts  me  to  speak." 

•'  Speak  boldly,   Christoval,  and  I  can  promise 


374  ESTEVAN. 

you  mj  sympathy,"  he  sadly  answered.  Though 
not  much  encouraged,  she  continued: 

"  Even  were  I  of  the  humblest  mould,  the  spirit 
of  your  nature  has  entered  my  soul  to  ennoble,-^ 
sanctify,  to  inspire.  But  1  am  not  one  for  whom 
you  should  blush.  In  my  veins  flows  the  gentlest 
blood  of  two  proud  races.  My  mother  was  a  prin 
cess  and  my  father  a  Spanish  cavalier  of  the  best 
blood  of  old  Castile;  am  I  one  of  whom  any  one 
should  be  ashamed?" 

"  The  Holy  Virgin  can  testify  that  you  are  not, 
Christoval.  You  are  one  of  whom  the  greatest  in 
the  world  might  well  feel  proud." 

As  his  trembling  hand  seized  hers,  Christoval's 
heart  gave  a  joyous  bound,  and  she  felt  as  by  a 
sudden  revelation  that  those  feelings  which  she  had 
so  long  and  innocently  cherished  were  love.  Alas, 
there  was  only  a  brotherly  touch  in  that  grasp,  and 
even  as  she  trembled  with  hope,  her  heart  grew 
heavy.  For  a  moment  her  maidenly  modesty  was 
crowded  into  the  background  by  the  wild  prompt 
ings  of  her  heart,  and  in  a  voice  almost  choked 
with  emotion  she  went  on: 

"Forgive  me,  Christopher,  for  this  bold,  unseem 
ly  avowal.  Have  you  been  so  blind  all  along? 
Will  the  scales  never  fall  from  your  eyes,  that  you 
may  see  me  as  I  am,  and  as  I  should  be?  It  may 
be  wrong  in  an  Indian  girl  to  love  one  as  great  as 


THE   WANDERER    FINDS    REST.  375 

you.  but  bow  could  I  belp  it?  From  tbe  hour  I 
was  snatched  from  the  fangs  of  the  bloodhound  I 
learned  to  admire  you  and  look  on  you  as  my 
protector.  My  happiest  childhood  days  were  spent 
wandering  hand  in  hand  about  the  coast  and  forest 
with  you.  When  you  left  for  Spain  I  experi 
enced  my  greatest  heartache,  and  on  your  return 
my  most  supreme  joy.  When  you  went  to  the 
strange,  far-off  southern  land,  infested  by  foes  on 
earth  and  in  air,  I  followed  you.  You  remember 
well  that  no  battle  ever  raged  too  hot,  and  death 
and  danger  were  never  too  near,  to  keep  me  from 
your  side.  My  own  breast  was  often  bared  to  the 
darts  of  the  foe,  that  mv  buckler  might  screen  YOU 

«.  *' 

from  danger.  And  when  you  went  to  the  un 
known  land  of  the  north,  I  was  at  your  side, 
with  no  higher  wish  than  to  die  for  you.  Estevan! 
Estevan!  are  you  so  blind  as  to  not  know  what 
motive  impelled  me  to  deeds  so  unbecoming  one  of 
my  sex?v 

Her  breath  was  exhausted,  and  she  paused  to 
await  his  answer.  He  was  under  the  gunwale  in  the 
deeper  shadow,  so  that  his  features  could  not  be 
seen.  What  would  Christoval  not  have  given  at 
that  moment  for  a  ray  of  light  upon  his  face,  to 
have  watched  the  effect  of  her  speech,  to  have  seen 
the  sudden  burst  of  ripened  love,  to  have  wor 
shipped  with  more  than  Persian  adoration  the  rising 


376  ESTEVAN. 

of  that  sun  which  her  credulous  soul  believed  was 
to  break  upon  her  dreary  night? 

Estevan's  heart  was  full,  and  for  a  few  moments 
the  bitterness  of  his  soul  checked  the  utterance  of 
his  speech.  Never  did  a  sympathizing  judge  an^ 
nounce  the  sentence  of  a  condemned  prisoner  with 
more  bitter  regret  than  he  replied  to  the  girl  whom 
he  loved  as  a  dearest  sister. 

"I  have  known  for  some  time,  Christoval,  that 
no  sisterly  love,  however  great,  could  prompt  one 
to  undergo  the  trials  and  hardships  which  you 
cheerfully  assume.  No  Castilian  maiden  of  this 
modern  age,  be  her  love  ever  so  great,  would  don 
the  buskin,  sword,  and  buckler,  and  march  to  the 
field  of  battle.  Such  events  belong  to  the  ages  of 
the  past.  Your  conduct  has  been  unbecoming, 
yet,  knowing,  as  I  do,  what  prompted  it,  I  am 
happy  to  freely  forgive  you.  Nor  have  I  forgotten 
that  you  have  in  your  veins  the  blood  of  this 
aboriginal  race,  whose  thoughts  and  emotions  are 
all  strange  to  us;  but  you  are  an  angel,  Christoval, 
the  dearest  sister  man  ever  had.  For  your  happi 
ness  I  would  willingly  lay  down  my  life;  but  you 
can  never  be  more  than  a  dear  sister  to  me — I— 
I — have  a  wife  at  Panama." 

She  neither  shrieked  nor  swooned.  She  leaned 
for  support  against  the  gunwale,  and  her  cheek, 
flushed  to  scarlet  but  a  moment  before,  was  now  of 


THE   WANDERER   FINDS   REST.  377 

the  color  of  death,  while  her  slender  fingers  were 
convulsively  entwined  about  each  other,  her  eyes 
were  on  the  deck,  and  she  scarce  seemed  to  breathe. 
Doomed  to  return  to  Cuba — doomed  to  take  shelter 
under  his  roof — doomed  to  breathe  the  same  air — 
and  doomed,  in  the  first  rush  of  an  awakening  hope, 
to  learn  that  he  loved  another,  to  realize  that  she 
was  of  a  race  far  below  him,  to  feel  all  at  once  the 
utter  nothingness  which  she  was — which  she  ever 
must  be,  but  which,  till  then,  her  young  mind  had 
never  realized.  What  wonder  that,  in  her  wild 
and  passionate  soul,  all  the  elements  jarred  discor 
dantly;  that,  if  love  reigned  over  the  whole,  it  was 
charred  and  blackened  by  a  heated  blast  of  despair. 

Estevan  was  shocked  at  her  silence,  at  the  awful 
pallor  of  her  face,  and  the  glassy  stare  of  her  eyes. 
He  sprang  to  his  feet,  and,  seizing  her  in  his  arms, 
breathed  her  name  three  or  four  times  in  his  low, 
impassioned  tones  without  receiving  any  answer. 

"  Christoval,  sweet  sister!  your  misery  makes  my 
existence  a  hell,"  he  murmured.  "Won't  you, 
for  my  sake,  speak.  Only  one  word,  say  you 
forgive  me." 

It  was  a  hard  struggle  for  her  to  appear  calm; 
but  her  stoical  Indian  nature  came  to  her  aid, 
although  she  was  not  able  to  entirely  repress  the 
fluttering  of  her  heart. 

"Christoval,  you  shall  always  be  my  sister,  and, 


378  ESTEVAN. 

next  to  my  wife,  receive  my  warmest  love  and  sym 
pathy.  Listen,  I  am  rich,  and  all  that  I  have  shall 
be  shared  with  you,  and  all  that  can  be  done  shall 
be  done  to  make  you  happy." 

At  last  she  grew  quite  calm  and  sat  at  his  side  a* 
long  time,  making  him  tell  her  of  Inez,  as  if  she 
were  interested  in  her.  She  had  him  narrate  his 
romantic  career  in  Spain  and  his  secret  marriage  in 
Panama  over  and  over,  as  if  she  took  pleasure  in 
the  story.  Then  he  persuaded  her  to  retire  to  the 
little  cabin  which  he  had  prepared  for  her  in  the 
after  part  of  the  brigantine. 

It  was  all  over,  and  Estevan  felt  a  sense  of  relief. 
She  had  borne  the  blow  much  better  than  he  had  - 
feared  she  would.  Then  his  mind  wandered  away 
to  other  scenes,  and  Christoval  was,  for  the  time 
being,  forgotten.  The  cavalier  lay  on  his  back 
gazing  at  the  moon  soaring  high  in  the  heavens, 
and  thought  that  the  same  moon  shone  on  loved 
ones  at  home.  Almost  four  years  had  elapsed 
since  he  sailed  from  Cuba.  What  changes  might 
have  come  in  that  time?  Were  his  wife  and 
mother  still  living?  Had  the  proud  old  don  for 
given  them  for  the  secret  marriage  which  had 
brought  so  much  misery  to  poor  Christoval? 
Despite  all  reasoning  to  the  contrary,  he  felt  guilty 
at  not  having  told  her  of  that  marriage.  Had  he 
done  so  all  this  misery  might  have  been  averted; 


THE  WANDERER    FINDS   REST.  379 

but  he  hoped  for  the  best,  and,  as  lie  lay  gazing  at 
the  moon  and  far-off  stars,  he  began  weaving  hap 
piness  for  his  beloved  Christoval.  He  could,  he 
would  yet  make  her  happy. 

Care  and  sleepless  toil  overcame  him.  His  eyes 
grew  heavy  and  closed;  he  slept,  while  the  brigan- 
tine  glided  slowly  on  amid  the  calm  and  silence  of 
a  peaceful  night.  When  all  save  the  drowsy  helms 
man  were  hushed  in  sleep,  Christoval  silently  rose 
from  her  berth,  and,  softly  stealing  to  the  little 
door,  opened  it  and  glanced  out  on  the  deck.  No 
one  was  in  sight,  and  she  emerged  silently,  and, 
gliding  to  where  Estevan  lay,  bent  timidly  over 
him  and  kissed  his  brow  and  lips,  while  a  tear  fell 
on  his  cheek.  Brushing  it  gently  away,  she  fell 
on  her  knees,  and,  with  her  great,  dark  eyes  up 
turned  to  Heaven,  prayed: 

"Holy  Virgin,  thou  mother  of  Jesus,  who  doeth 
all  things  well,  bless  Estevan  in  his  sacred  love! 
Dear,  dear  Estevan,  may  you  ever  be  happy  with 
your  beloved  one!  And  may  you  sometimes  have 
a  tender  thought  for  the  poor,  unfortunate  Indian 
girl,  who,  like  her  despised  race,  is  of  no  further 
use  on  earth." 

She  rose  and  stole  away  along  the  deck,  keeping 
under  the  shadow  of  the  gunwale  that  the  eyes  of 
the  man  at  the  helm  might  not  see  her.  Then,  in 
the  darker  shadow  of  that  cabin  which  had  been 


380 


ESTEVAN. 


erected  by  him  she  loved,  she  paused  and  leaned 
far  over  the  side  of  the  vessel.  The  glad  waves 
leaped  upward  as  if  eager  to  kiss  her  heated  brow, 
and  the  gentle  breeze  played  with  her  hair".--  She 
carefully  put  back  those  silken  tresses,  and,  raising"*^ 
her  eyes  to  God,  murmured  in  her  tenderest  ac 
cents  : 

"Thou  great,  divine  Ruler,   forgive  me.      It   is 

better  thus !  I  could  not 
endure  it;  this  jealous 
madness  would  destroy 
my  soul  and  his  happi 
ness.  I  cannot  see  him 
caressed  by  another,  '» 
him,  whom  I  was  so  fool 
ish  as  to  believe  all  my 
own.  How  calm  and 
peaceful  those  waters 
look!  how  inviting,  0 
placid  sea,  are  your  dim 
pled  waves !  Wh  en  they 
roll  above  the  troubled 
breast  of  poor  Christo- 
val,  then  will  she  be  at  peace.  Estevan,  earth, 
sky,  moon  and  stars,  a  last  farewell !" 

The  helmsman  heard  a  splash,  and,  looking  out 
across  the  side  of  the  vessel,  he  saw  a  ripple  in  the 
waves  fast  drifting  astern.  There  was  no  cry,  no 


"  ESTEVAN— FAREWELL,  !'; 


THE  WANDERER   FINDS   REST.  381 

struggle,  and,  supposing  it  but  the  splash  of  a 
playful  dolphin,  he  made  no  investigation  of  the 
incident.  The  craft  sped  merrily  on,  while  the 
beautiful  daughter  of  Yasco  Nunez  de  Balboa  sank 
beneath  the  waves  forever. 


CHAPTER   XXV. 

CONCLUSION. 

ONCE  more  to  St.  Jago  we  must  invite  the  reader. 
A  brigantine  has  entered  the  peaceful  harbor  and 
dropped  anchor.  There  are  few  demonstrations  of 
joy  as  the  battle-scarred,  gray-visaged  veterans  land 
and  make  their  way  from  the  seashore  to  the  town. 
Their  haggard  visages  and  weather-beaten  features 
tell  a  frightful  story  of  suffering  and  hardships  in 
the  wilderness.  The  news  had  reached  Cuba  of  the 
death  and  strange  burial  of  Do  Soto.  Wild  stories 
had  been  borne  on  the  breeze,  as  it  were,  of  battles 
with  all  manner  and  form  of  man  and  beast  in  the 
wilderness.  Tales  of  suffering  and  heroic  devotion, 
which  would  have  harrowed  the  soul  of  the  bravest 
and  brought  tears  to  the  eyes  of  the  strongest,  were 
recounted. 

One  of  these  strange  stories  which  soon  became 
current,  not  only  in  New  Spain,  but  all  over  the 
civilized  world,  was  the  narrative  of  a  young  Indian 
boy  named  Nicosia,  who  was  strangely  attached  to 
Estevan,  one  of  De  Soto's  favorite  officers.  Those 
382 


CONCLUSION.  383 

who  had  known  the  quiet  youth  never  tired  relating 
iiis  heroism  and  devotion  to  the  man  whom  he 
loved,  and  how  he  had  often  saved  his  life  at  the 
risk  of  his  own.  The  story-tellers  went  on  to  relate 
that  one  night  on  the  voyage  across  the  gulf,  Nico 
sia  mysteriously  fell  overboard  and  perished.  The 
captain  over  whom  he  had  so  long  been  a  guardian 
angel  knew  nothing  of  his  death  until  next  morn 
ing,  when  he  wrung  his  hands  in  the  bitterness  of 
his  grief  and  wept  for  the  lost  one.  That  was  all. 
Nicosia's  secret  was  securely  kept,  and  no  one  ever 
thought  of  connecting  the  lost  Indian  boy  with 
Christoval  Balboa. 

Estevan  was  one  of  the  crew  of  the  brigantine. 
As  he  ascended  the  hill,  he  seemed  a  score  of  years 
older  than  when,  four  years  before,  he  bade  adieu 
to  wife  and  relatives,  to  depart  with  the  gov 
ernor  to  the  subjugation  of  Florida.  A  settled 
melancholy  had  come  over  his  face,  and  he  felt  as 
one  who  knew  that  his  race  had  been  run,  as  one 
whose  life  had  been  clouded  with  some  deep  sorrow. 
He  had  but  just  landed,  and,  as  yet,  had  heard 
nothing  from  home.  He  knew  not  who  would 
greet  him  in  that  beautiful  mansion  where  he  had 
left  his  loved  ones. 

Tidings  of  the  arrival  of  the  returned  explorers 
spread  like  wildfire  through  the  town  soon  after 
their  disembarkation,  and  people  everywhere  turned 


384  ESTEVAN. 

out  to  gaze  upon  the  wildly-clad,  half-starved  sur 
vivors,  as  they  wandered  about  the  streets  in  quest 
of  friends  and  relatives  whom  they  once  had  known. 
Estevan  had  passed  the  limits  of  the  little  city  wl^en 
he  met  the  first  face  familiar  to  him.  It  was  his 
brother  Philip,  now  grown  to  a  great,  stout  man. 

He  called  to  him;  but  it  was  several  moments 
before  Philip  could  recognize  in  the  sun-browned, 
battle-hardened,  weather-beaten  veteran,  the  hand 
some  brother  of  a  few  years  ago. 

"Brother!  Christopher!"  Philip  cried  at  last, 
rushing  to  his  brother  and  clasping  him  in  his  arms. 

"Does  mother  live?"  he  asked  as  soon  as  he' 
could  command  his  voice. 

"Yes." 

"I  must  see  her  at  once,  brother — only  to  bid 
her  adieu,  however,  for  I  must  hasten  to  Panama." 

Philip  gazed  at  him  for  a  moment  with  a  look  of 
sorrow  and  amazement.  He  began  to  say  some 
thing,  to  interpose  some  objection  to  his  brother 
returning  only  to  take  his  leave,  when  Estevan  put 
an  end  to  it  all  by  commanding  him  to  lead  the 
way  to  his  mother  at  once.  Philip  went  before 
him,  and,  on  reaching  the  portals  of  the  old- 
fashioned  Spanish  house,  called  to  his  mother  who 
was  within,  and  announced  the  welcome  news,  the 
arrival  of  his  brother. 

"Christopher!    Christopher!"    cried  a  matronly 


CONCLUSION.  385 

woman,  rushing  to  the  front  apartment,  to  meet 
him,  and  clasping  the  battle-scarred  wanderer  in 
her  arms. 

Her  cry  of  joy,  and  the  name  "brother,"  "Chris 
topher,"  had  reached  other  ears.  A  heart,  beating 
more  fondly  than  a  mother's,  leaped  with  joy  at 
the  glad  news,  "  Christopher  has  returned."  There 
was  a  joyous  cry,  and  a  moment  later  the  portieres 
of  another  apartment  were  thrown  aside,  and  a 
young  and  beautiful  woman  sprang  forward  to 
entwine  her  arms  about  his  neck,  and,  in  a  voice 
brimming  over  with  love,  to  exclaim: 

"Christopher!  Husband!  The  Holy  Virgin  be 
praised  that  you  are  once  more  restored  to  rne." 

Amazed  at  this  wholly  unexpected  reception,  the 
cavalier  wras  for  a  moment  dazed 5  but  after  an 
effort  he  gasped: 

"Inez!" 

"It  is  I,  your  wife." 

She  gently  drew  his  bearded  face  down  to  her 
and  pressed  kiss  after  kiss  upon  it. 

"I — I  only  stopped  here  to  learn  of  you  from 
mother.  I  was  to  stay  but  a  moment  and  then 
hasten  to  Panama.  I — I  little  dreamed  I  would 
find  you  here!"  he  stammered. 

"Then  it  is  indeed  a  glad  surprise  for  you,"  said 
his  mother,  who  stood  smiling  at  the  happy  bewil 
derment  of  her  son. 
25 


386  ESTEVAN. 

"A  glorious  surprise,  indeed,  mother.  This 'is 
the  greatest  hour  of  my  life.  But  how  did  it  all 
come  about?  I  can  scarce  believe  that  it  is  not  a 
dream  from  which  I  will  awake  to  find  myself  back 
in  the  wilderness  of  Florida.  Come,  explain,  "foi 
I  am  all  eagerness." 

The  wife  and  mother  vied  with  each  other  in 
ministering  to  his  wants.  They  made  him  take 
the  most  comfortable  seat,  and  with  one  on  either 
side  he  listened  to  the  explanation  he  had  so 
eagerly  demanded.  The  mother,  on  receiving  his 
letter  informing  her  of  his  secret  marriage,  made  a 
visit  to  Panama  to  this  new  daughter  and  assured 
her  of  her  love  and  sympathy.  The  old  don  was 
terribly  enraged  at  first  on  learning  of  the  secret 
marriage;  but  in  a  few  months  he  became  recon 
ciled  to  it.  A  year  and  a  half  later  the  father  died 
and  Inez  was  easily  persuaded  to  take  up  her  resi 
dence  with  her  husband's  mother  at  Cuba  until  her 
husband  returned.  Here  she  had  lived  ever  since, 
as  happy  as  she  well  could  be  while  his  fate  was 
unknown.  At  times  they  had  given  him  up  for 
dead;  but  when  they  began  to  mourn  him  as  no 
more,  a  rumor  reached  them  from  that  mysterious, 
far-off  land  that  he  still  lived  and  would  return. 
With  an  abiding  trust  in  a  kind  and  all-wise  Provi 
dence  they  waited  and  lived  in  hope,  reconciled  to 
the  inevitable. 


CONCLUSION.  387 

When  the  story  was  finished  and  they  had  lis 
tened  in  part  to  his  wild  adventures,  the  mother, 
seeking  an  opportunity  to  speak  with  her  son  alone, 
asked : 

"Where  is  Christoval?" 

"  Alas,  mother,  she  is  no  more.  The  sea  has 
claimed  her,  and  I  pray  you  to  never  again  men 
tion  the  name  of  that  noble  but  unhappy  girl." 

His  mother  understood  him  better  than  any 
other  could,  and  kept  his  secret.  Never  afterward 
was  the  name  of  Christoval  mentioned.  Her  life 
and  mysterious  fate  was  the  only  secret  which 
Estevan  never  shared  with  his  beloved  wife. 
Through  the  long,  happy  years  that  followed,  he 
was  at  times  haunted  by  that  sweet  face,  and  often 
sighed  in  silence,  or  brushed  a  tell-tale  moisture 
from  his  eye  as  memory  recalled  that  last  sad  night 
at  sea. 

When  the  mother  had  been  informed  of  the  fate 
of  Christoval,  the  wife  once  more  carne  to  claim 
her  husband,  and,  with  her  arm  lovingly  about 
his  neck,  she  whispered  in  his  ear: 

"I  have  still  another  surprise  for  you/' 

"What  greater  surprise  can  you  have  than  I 
have  already  enjoyed." 

"Come  with  me  and  you  shall  see  that  this  one 
is  the  most  happy  of  all." 

She  led  him  softly  through  the  cool,  darkened 


388  ESTEVAN. 

rooms,  where  tapestried  curtains,  gently  rustled  by 
the  breeze,  seemed  to  hint  at  sweetest  slumber. 
At  last  they  paused  in  a  dainty  chamber,  where 
stood  a  bed  hung  about  by  the  finest  of  curtains^ 
With  a  happy  smile  on  her  face  Inez  advanced 
and  parted  the  curtains. 

"Behold  your  son!" 

Before  Estevan's  vision  there  appeared  the 
daintiest,  downiest  bed  he  had  ever  seen,  on  which 
was  a  sleeping  child,  three  and  a  half  years  of  age. 
For  a  moment  Estevan,  who  had  never  before 
dreamed  that  he  was  a  father,  gazed  like  one 
entranced  upon  that  sweet  young  face,  and  asked 
himself  if  it  was  reality  or  some  pleasant  dream; 
while  the  happy  wife  and  mother  smiled  in  her 
joy  upon  lys  confusion. 

In  the  noble  features  and  brown,  curly  hair,  clus 
tering  about  the  chubby  face,  Estevan  saw  the 
reproduction  of  his  own  image.  It  was  several 
minutes  before  he  had  recovered  from  the  surprise 
sufficiently  to  speak  or  move.  But  soon  he 
regained  himself  and  clasped  his  wife  in  his  arms, 
tears  raining  down  his  weather-beaten  cheeks. 

"Inez,  why  did  you  not  tell  me  of  this  before?" 

"The  surprise  was  too  pleasant  to  be  revealed 
by  others.  I  wanted  you  to  make  the  discovery." 

"This  joy  is  too  great;  my  cup  of  happiness  is 
full  to  the  brim." 


'BEHOLD   YOUR    SON!1 


CONCLUSION.  389 

Stooping  over  the  sleeping  infant,  He  pressed  on 
its  soft  young  cheek  the  first  fatherly  kiss.  Within 
his  heart  there  was  born  a  new  emotion,  a  new 
love,  to  which  every  one  but  a  parent  is  a  stranger 
His  voice  was  low  and  husky,  his  eyes  moist,  and 
the  stern  warrior  was  all  tenderness  and  joy.  As 
lie  gazed  on  the  sweet  young  face  of  Iris  sleeping 
babe,  did  his  prophetic  soul  read  the  future  of  a 
long  line  of  noble  Americans  who  were  10  occupy 
conspicuous  places  in  the  future  history  of  an 
unborn  nation? 


THE   END. 


HISTORICAL  IISTDEX. 


PAGE 

Alcalde  Mayor,  Encisco  as 25 

Arms  of  Balboa's  army 36 

America,  how  named 55 

Arrest  of  Cortez 66 

Arbotancha,  Pedro  de,  sent  by  Balboa  to  Spain 72 

Acla,  Balboa  at 81 

Armament  of  Cortez 105 

Aguilar  found  by  Cortez 105 

Artist  of  Montezuma. ...   130 

Ahualco,  Sierra  of 151 

Ajotzinco,  halt  at 155 

Approach  of  Montezuma 161 

Ayllon  arrested  by  Narvaez 170 

Andes,  Spaniards  crossing  tne 269 

Atahualpa  receives  Pizarro's  envoys 279 

Atahualpa  enters  the  plaza 285 

Attack  on  the  Inca 288 

Atahualpa  seized  by  the  Spaniards 290 

Atahualpa's  offer  of  ransom 292 

Atahualpa's  trial 295 

Atahualpa  executed 297 

Arms  and  armament  of  De  Soto 343 

Attack  on  De  Soto's  advance 344 

Acuera  and  De  Soto's  embassadors 346 

Apalachian  chain  reached  by  Spaniards 355 

Albonia,  battle  of 362 

391 


392  HISTORICAL   INDEX. 

PAGE 

Bovadilla's  plots  to  ruin  Columbus 3 

Balboa,  Vasco  Nunez  de 4 

Bachelor  Encisco  lends  Ojeda  money  for  expedition, .  7 

Balboa  arrested  for  debt 

Balboa  in  the  cask 18 

Balboa  discovered 20 

Balboa  deposes  Encisco 26 

Balboa  deposes  Nicuesa  March  1,  1511 29 

Balboa  at  Coyba 30 

Balboa  departs  for  conquest  of  Ponca 37 

Balboa  sets  out  for  Comagre 39 

Balboa  learns  of  the  great  South  Sea 41 

Balboa's  search  for  the  " Golden  lemple. "...    43 

Balboa's  commission 47 

Balboa  sets  out  to  find  the  unknown  ocean 48 

Balboa's  conduct  inquired  into 75 

Balboa  arrested  by  Pedrarias 77 

Balboa  recalled  to  Acla 85 

Balboa  arrested  by  Pizarro 86 

Balboa  executed 90 

Bachelor  Encisco  has  Pizarro  arrested  at  Seville 225 

Battle  at  Xauxa 304 

Battle  at  Tuscaloosa 356 

Burial  of  De  Soto 371 

Castilla  del  Oro 1 

Columbus,  Don  Diego 2 

Cortez,  Hernando 4 

Carthagena,  Encisco  touches  at 21 

Colmenares 26 

Carrol  favors  dispossessing  Nicuesa 27 

Careta,  chief  of  Coyba 30 

Coyba,  conquest  of 31 

Careta  captured 31 

Comagre's  dwelling 40 

Comagre  and  his  sons  baptized 43 


HISTORICAL   INDEX.  893 

PAGE 

Commission  sent  to  Spain  to  report  South  Sea 47 

Cuba,  conquest  of  by  Velasquez 57 

Cortez  a  conspirator 64 

Cortez  captured  at  the  church 67 

Cortez  conciliates  the  governor 71 

Codro  Micer,  astrologer 83 

Cortez  married 91 

Cortez  a  planter 92 

Cortez  appointed  to  the  conquest  of  Mexico 96 

Cortez,  hearing  of  the  governor's  double  dealing,  re 
solves  to  sail  at  once 100 

Cortez,  description  of,  at  the  time  of  the  conquest —  104 

Cortez  at  Cozumel 105 

Cortez  enters  the  valley  of  Mexico 151 

Chinampas  (floating  gardens) 157 

Cuitlahuac,  halt  at 157 

Cuitlahua,  Montezuma's  brother 157 

Cortez  at  the  gateway 160 

Cortez  meets  Montezuma 162 

Cortez  sends  a  friendly  message  to  Narvaez 173 

Cortez's  speech  to  army  at  the  "River  of  Canoes" 176 

Cortez  attacks  Narvaez 180 

Caleza  discovered  and  rescued 211 

Cortez  meets  Pizarro  in  Toledo 228 

Charles  V.  affected  to  tears  by  Pizarro's  story 231 

Cordilleras,  the 269 

Condor,  the,  of  the  Andes 278 

Caxamalca,  city  of 278 

Cuzco,  march  to 302 

Challcuchima  and  men  accompany  Spaniards  to  Cuzco  302 

Challcuchima  suspected 308 

Challcuchima  burned  at  the  stake 309 

Cuzco,  Spaniards  enter 310 

Coricaucha,  temple  of 311 

Coosa,  Spaniards  at 356 


394  HISTORICAL    INDEX. 

PAGE 

Chickasaws  defeated  by  De  Soto 360 

Darien,  Encisco   at 25 

Dobayba,  tradition  of .7  43- 

Dobayba ,  conquest  of 44 

Discovery  of  the  Pacific  Ocean 52 

Duero  de  Andres 94 

De  Soto,  Hernando 264 

De  Soto  meets  the  envoy  at  Caxas. ...    273 

De  Soto  sent  to  Huamachuco 294 

De  Soto  attacked  on  the  mountain  pass 305 

De  Soto  appointed  governor  of  Cuba 332 

De  Soto  sails  from  Havana  for  Florida 335 

De  Soto  and  the  Indian  queen 351 

De  Soto  hears  of  the  Mississippi 361 

De  Soto  discovers  the  Mississippi 368 

De  Soto  at  Pocaha 367 

De  Soto  on  the  plains 368 

De  Soto's  illness  and  death 370 

Embarkation  of  Ojeda 11 

Encisco  beats  up  for  recruits 14 

Encisco,  Bachelor,  sails  for  Darien 18 

Encisco' s,  Bachelor,  rage  at  Balboa 20 

Encisco  returns  to  San  Domingo 26 

Embarkation  of  Cortez 101 

Escudero  hung 134 

Epidemic  in  Pizarro's  army 258 

Envoys  to  Atahualpa 279 

Fulvia,  Careta's  daughter  and  Balboa's  Indian  wife. .  32 

Fulvia's  influence  over  Balboa 34 

Florida,  discovery  of 55 

Fitting  out  an  expedition  to  bring  back  Cortez  from 

Mexico 168 

Florida,  Narvaez  in 211 

Fray  Vincente  de  Valverde  and  Atahualpa 286 

Gold,  division  of,  at  Comagre's  dwelling 40 


HISTORICAL    INDEX.  395 

PAGE 

Garabito  Andres  arrives  from  Cuba 76 

Garabito  Andres  betrays  Balboa 83 

Golden  hill,  Narvaez's  search  for 211 

Guayaquil,  Gulf  of 261 

Hatuey,  cacique  of  Cuba  burned 58 

Hurtado  Bartolome  supersedes  Balboa 87 

Huayna  Capac  first  hears  of  white  men 250 

Huascar  assassinated 293 

Internal  quarrels  at  Darien ' 47 

Indian  slaves,  cruelty  to 112 

Indian  legends  of  Peru 117 

Iztapalapan 157 

Inca's    reply  to  the  Dominican  friar 287 

Inca  Toparca  dies  at  Xauxa 308 

Indian  captives  sent  to  De  Soto  at  Havana 334 

Indians  attack  De  Soto's  troops 341 

Indian  queen  seized  by  De  Soto 353 

Juan  de  la  Cosa  settles  a  quarrel   between  Ojeda  and 

Nicuesa 2 

Jamaica,  dispute  settled 2 

Juan  de  Esquibel  first  governor  of  Jamaica 2 

Jester  of  Governor  Velasquez 97 

Juan  Diaz,  conspiracy  of 134 

King  of  Tezcuco  interviews  Cortez 155 

Leoncico,  Balboa's  bloodhound 37 

Lares  de  Amador 94 

Lake  Chalco 156 

La  Villa  Eica 171 

Llama,  the  only  beast  of  burden  in  the  New  World. .  231 

"  Little  Philip" 251 

Morales  and  Pizarro  at  the  Island  of  Pearls 78 

Mexico 122 

Marina,   Dona,   Cortez's  interpreter 125 

Marina's  story 126 

Montezuma  hears  of  Cortez .  127 


39fi  HISTORICAL  INDEX. 

PiGE 

Mexico,  Valley  of 151 

Montezuma's  forebodings 154 

Montezuma  under  Spanish  protection 171 

March  to  Cuzco .Y. .  -302 

Manco  Capac  claims  the  throne  of  Peru 309 

Manco  Capac  crowned  Inca 314 

Manco  Capac  pledges  allegiance  to  Spain 315 

Midnight  attack  at  Chicaca 357 

Mississippi,  discovery  of 363 

Moscoso  chosen  in  place  of  De  Soto 370 

Nicuesa  settles  his  dispute  with  Ojeda 6 

Nombre  de  Dios 27 

Nicuesa  forced  to  fly  to  the  woods 28 

Nicuesa  perishes  at  sea 29 

Negroes  brought  from  Spain     63 

Narvaez  sets  sail  to  capture  Cortez 170  , 

Narvaez  at  Cempoallo 178 

Narvaez  wounded  in  the  teocalis 181 

Narvaez  and  officers  captured 182 

Narvaez  obtains  commission  from  Charles  V.  to  ex 
plore  Florida 210 

Narvaez,  fate  of 211 

Ojeda  sails 13 

Ojeda  leaves  Darien  with  Bernardino  de  Talavera. ...  23 

Ojeda,  death  of. 55 

Oviedo,  notary  and  historian 74 

Olmedo,  priest 123 

Ortiz,  Jean,  rescued  by  Spaniards 341 

Ochus,  De  Soto's  ships  at 356 

Pizarro,  Francisco 4 

Pizarro  arrives  at  Carthagena 23 

Ponca,  conquest  of 38 

Ponca  won  over  to  Balboa 49 

Pacific  Ocean,  the  discovery  of 52 

Ponce  de  Leon,  search  for  the  fountain  of  youth 55 


HISTORICAL   INDEX.  397 

PAGE 

Pedrarias,  governor  of  Darien 72 

Pizarro  first  hears  of  Peru 79 

Panama,  town  of,  founded 82 

Palm  Sunday  service 122 

Pedro  de  Alvarado  left  in  command  at  Mexico 174 

Pizarro  chooses  to  go  to  Peru 211 

Pedro  de  Candia 212 

Pizarro  arrested  at  Seville  (1528) 226 

Pizarro  on  being  released  goes  to  Toledo 228 

Pizarro  and  Cortez,  before  Charles  V 230 

Pizarro  granted  commission  by  the  queen,  to  conquer 

Peru,  July,   1529.  .....   232 

Pizarro  visits  his  birthplace 233 

Pizarro's  four  brothers  enlist  in  the  enterprise 233 

Peruvian  superstitions  and  warnings 250 

Pizarro's  army 256 

Pizarro  sails  for  Tumbez 257 

Pizarro's  march  by  land 257-258 

Puna,   island  of 260 

Puna,  conflict  at 261 

Peruvian  scenery 265 

Pizarro's  march  from  San  Miguel 268 

Piura,  Spaniards  crossing  the 269 

Pizarro  addresses  his  soldiers 271 

Peruvian  roads 276 

Plaza,  or  public  square  in  Caxamalca 283 

Pizarro  preparing  to  seize  the  Inca 284 

Pizarro  wounded 289 

Pizarro  and  Almagro  come  to  De  Soto's  relief 308 

Pizarro  entering  Cuzco 310 

Pizarro's  proclamation 311 

Peruvian  festivities 315 

Quaraqua  defeated 49 

Quetzalcoatl,  popular  tradition  of 131 

Quizquiz  slain 316 


398  HISTORICAL   INDEX. 

PAGE 

Regidor  Valdivia's  return 43 

Reporter  for  Montezuma 130 

Royal  audience  of  San  Domingo  seek  to  prevent  Velas 
quez  \..  -170 

River  of  Canoes,  Cortez  at 175 ' 

Ruiz,  Pizarro's  pilot 212 

Rumor  of  uprising  at  Huamachuco 293 

Road  of  the  Incas  to  Cuzco 302 

San  Domingo 1 

Santa  Maria  de  la  Antigua  del  Darien .  25 

South  Sea  heard  of 41 

St.  Antonio,  Cortez  at 105 

San  Juan  de  Ulua,  Cortez  arrives  at 123 

Spaniards  land  at  Vera  Cruz 128 

Soldiers  of  Cortez  falter 153 

Sandoval  commander  at   La  Villa  Rica 171 

Salvatierra's  boast 174 

Spanish  conquerors,   character  of 243 

St.  Mathew  Bay,  Pizarro  at 257 

San  Miguel,  founding  of 265 

Spaniards  grow  discontented 270 

Spaniards  suffer  crossing  the  Andes 277 

Silver,  Spanish  horses   shod  with 294 

Silver  bars  of  Peru 311 

Seville,  mustering  of  De  Soto's  army  at 332 

Spanish  barbarity 345 

Spaniards  at  Tallahasse 348 

Truxillo,  birthplace  of  Pizarro 4 

Tubanama,  dominion    of 42 

Trinidad,  Cortez   at 103 

Tobascan  tribe 121 

Teuhtlile,  Mexican  cacique 127 

Teuhtlile's  interview  with  Cortez 128 

Tierra  Caliente,  plain  of 175 

Tumbez,  Pizarro  landing  at 261 


HISTORICAL   INDEX.  399 

PAGE 

Tumbez,  fight  at 262 

Taugarala  265 

Treasures  brought  to  ransom  the  Inca 294 

Toparca  succeeds  Atahualpa  as  Inca 301 

Tampa  Bay,  De  Soto  at 335 

Uraba,  Gulf  of 43 

Valeuzuela  and  brigautiue   lost  at  sea 24 

Velasquez,  governor  of  Cuba 57 

Velasquez  urged  to  recall  the  commission  of  Cortez ...  99 

Velasquez  orders  Cortez   to  return 102 

Vera  Cruz,  city  of,  laid  out 134 

Velasquez    decides    to    send    Narvaez  to   bring    back 

Cortez 167 

Vilcacauga,  Sierra  of 304 

Valladolid,  De  Soto  at 332 

Vasco  Porcullo 335 

Voyage  down  the  Mississippi  372 

Wandering  of  De  Soto , 355 

Washita  River,  De  Soto  on 368 

Xeres  de  los  Caballeros,  the  birthplace  of   Balboa. ...  4 

Xuarez  sisters 59 

Xochialco  Lake 156 

Xauxa,  Pizarro  halts  at 304 

Xaquixaguana,  in  the  vale  of 308 

Yazoo  River,  Spaniards  at . .  357 

Zenu,  province  of 24 

Zemaco  warns  cacique  of  Dobayba 44 

Zemaco's  plot  to  destroy  the  Spaniards 45 

Zemaco  surprised  and  slain 46 

Zaran,  Pizarro  at 272 


CHKONOLOGY. 


PERIOD  II.—  AGE  OF  CONQUEST. 
FROM  A.D.  1509  TO  A.D.  1542. 

1509.  ACCESSION  OF  HENRY  VIII.  to  the  throne  of  Eng 

land,— April  21. 

OJEDA  sailed  from  San  Domingo  to  conquer  Darien, 
—Nov.  10. 

1510.  BALBOA  by  a  strategy  evaded  his  creditors  and  sailed 

with  Encisco. 

1511.  CUBA  conquered  by  Velasquez. 

1512.  PONCE  DE  LEON  discovered  and  named  Florida, — 

March  27. 
BALBOA  supplanted  Encisco  as  Governor  of  Darien. 

1513.  BALBOA  discovered  Pacific  Ocean, — Called  it  the 

South  Sea. 

1514.  BALBOA  superseded  by  Pedrarias. 
1517.  BALBOA  executed  by  order  of  Pedrarias. 

CORDOVA  discovered  Mexico. 

1519.  CORTEZ,  with  a  land  and  naval  force,  sailed  from 

Cuba  to  conquer  Mexico. 

1520.  MAGELLAN,  a  Portuguese,  in  the  service  of  Spain, 

explored  Straits  of  Magellan. — He  named  the 
Pacific  Ocean. 

NARVAEZ,  sent  to  bring  back  Cortez,  defeated  and 
captured  in  Mexico. 

THIS  YEAR  DE  AYALLON  led  an  expedition  to  Caro 
lina,  — called  it  Chicora. 

26  401 


402  CHRONOLOGY. 

1521.  CORTEZ  CONQUERED  MONTEZUMA  in  Mexico — which 

he  called  New  Spain.     Montezuma  died  of 
wounds  received  from  his  own  subjects. 

1522.  FIRST  CIRCUMNAVIGATION  of  the  globe  by  Magellan's 

ship. 
1524.  VERRAZANO  explored  the  coast  from  Carolina  to 

New  Foundland, — Called  it  New  France. 
1528.  NARVAEZ  attempted  to  conquer  Florida.     His  fate 

is  unknown.     Four  survivors  reached  Mexico. 

1530.  PIZARRO  sailed  with  fleet  and  army  to  conquer  Peru. 

1531.  PIZARRO  CONQUERED  PERU.— Inca  put  to  death. 
City  of  Lima  founded. 

1534.  CARTIER,  a  Frenchman,  under  Roberval,  explored 
Gulf  and  River  of  St.  Lawrence. 

1539.  DE  SOTO  WITH  TEN  VESSELS  and  600  men  sailed 

from  Havana,  Cuba,  to  conquer  Florida, — May 
14. 

1540.  DE  SOTO  wandering  in  the  wilderness  in  Florida. 

1541.  DE  SOTO  DISCOVERED  THE  MISSISSIPPI  RIVER,— May 

17. 

1542.  CABRILLO,  a  Portuguese  in  the  service  of  Spain,  ex 

plored  the  coast  of  California. 

1542.  HERNANDO  DE  SOTO  DIED  AT  NOON  and  was  buried 
in  the  river  he  discovered.  A  few  of  his  fol 
lowers  under  Mascoso  afterward  found  their 
way  back  to  Cuba, — May  21. 


THE 


COLUMBIAN  HISTORICAL  NOVELS 


A  COMPLETE  HISTORY  OF  OUR  COUNTRY, 

FROM  THE  TIME  OF  COLUMBUS  DOWN  TO  THE  PRESENT  DAY,  IN  THE  FORM 
OF  THIRTEEN  COMPLETE  STORIES. 


BY 

JOHN  R.   MUSICK. 


ABOUT  5,500  PAGES.  350  HALF-TONE  PLATES,  MAPS  OF  THE  PERIOD,  AND 
PEN-AND-INK  DRAWINGS,  BY  F.  A.  CARTER. 


TITLES  : 

Vol.  I.  Columbia  :      A  Story  of  the  Discovery  of  America. 

Vol.  II.  Estevan  :      A  Story  of  the  Spanish  Conquests. 

Vol.  III.  St.  Augustine:      A  Story  of  the  Huguenots. 

Vol.  IV.  Focahontas  :      A  Story  of  Virginia. 

Vol.  V.  The  Pilgrims  :      A  Story  of  Massachusetts. 

Vol.  VI.  A  Century  Too  Soon  :    A  Story  of  Bacon's  Rebellion. 

Vol.  VII.  The  Witch  of  Salem  5  or,  Credulity  Run  Mad. 

Vol.  VIII.  Braddock  :      A  Story  of  the  French  and  Indian  Wars. 

Vol.  IX.  Independence:     A  Story  of  the  American  Revolution. 

Vol.  X.  Sustained  Honor  :      A  Story  of  the  War  of  I  812. 

Vol.  XI.  Humbled  Pride  :      A  Story  of  the  Mexican  War. 

Vol.  XII.  Union  :      A  Story  of  the  Great  Rebellion. 

Vol.  XIII.  Cuba  Libre  :     A  Story  of  the  Spanish-American  War. 


FUNK  &  WAGNALLS  COMPANY 

NEW   YORK  AND  LONDON 

1902 


Date  Due 


PRINTED    IN    U.S.*.  CAT.      NO.      24      161 


